THE Darlington Independent Advisory Group has given its backing to an initiative to help tackle hate crime.

The hate crime reporting initiative encourages members of the public to report hate incidents. It follows a rise in the number of hate-related incidents following the killing of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich last month.

Chief Inspector Chris Reeves, of Darlington police, said: “We believe that every individual in Darlington has the right to be treated with respect and have a safe and peaceful life in the town.”

A spokesman for the Muslim community said: “I urge all communities across Darlington to ensure their members know how to report such incidents including third party reporting methods, whether this is direct to the police, through the Community Safety Unit or through their mosque, place of worship or community centre.”