Hundreds of posters which aim to tackle hate crime are now being displayed across the North East.
Hate crimes are crimes committed against someone because of their race, religion or belief, disability, gender-identity or sexual orientation. The new posters will display the message: "Being you is not a crime. Targeting you is".
From Friday morning, they will be displayed on-board public transport across the region, including buses, Tyne and Wear Metro trains and ferries. They will also appear on digital screens across NHS venues, including hospitals, GP practices and walk-in centres.
Read more: Family of Sheldon Flanighan 'devastated' after Father's Day gifts taken from grave and binned
The posters have been created by Northumbria Police's Community Engagement Teams. They hope they will raise awareness of what constitutes a hate crime and encourage victims to report all incidents to police.
They have teamed up with the NHS as well as Nexus, which operates the Metro, Arriva, Stagecoach and Go North East.
Superintendent Scott Cowie, the force's lead for hate crime, said: "We do not tolerate hate crime of any kind within our communities and discrimination has no place in society. We hope this visible campaign sends out a very strong and important message to victims, perpetrators and the wider community as a whole.
"If you are abused because of your race, religion, sexual orientation, gender-identity or disability, that is a criminal offence – and as a Force, we are committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice.
"That abuse can appear in various forms, whether it’s verbal abuse, intimidation, threats, harassment, assault or damage to property. You do not have to suffer in silence – please come forward and report it.
"Our appeal also extends far wider to entire communities living here in the North East and beyond. We all have a role to play in reporting hate crimes, to ensure those offenders are rightly brought to justice.
"If you see somebody committing a hate crime, or know of any instances of abuse, reporting it can help us take swift action and potentially prevent similar incidents from happening to someone else."
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, added: "I love our region for being the friendly and welcoming place everyone knows it to be. Anyone who doesn’t adhere to that and chooses to target and harass others, for whatever reason, needs to know it will not be tolerated.
"Whether sat in the doctor’s waiting room or travelling home on the bus, I hope people will see the campaign and feel confident to report any abuse, in the knowledge that it will be taken seriously, investigated, and they’ll be offered support.
"This campaign complements a range of other measures that are also being rolled out across the region as part of my Safer Transport Northumbria Project. Patrols, engagement, youth work, apps – there is lots happening as part of a region-wide mission to make people feel safer and change unacceptable behaviours.
"The only thing not welcome in the North East is hate."
