Three teenagers from a Baldock special needs school joined forces with police in Hitchin to raise awareness about reporting hate crimes.

The boys from Brandles School, named Shane, Ryan and Bailey, worked alongside the Hitchin Safer Neighbourhood Team during the initiative in Market Place on Wednesday.

They gave out leaflets listing the locations of third-party centres in the area where hate crimes can be reported.

North Herts and Stevenage hate crime officer PC Angela Westwood expressed her gratitude for the boys’ help.

PC Westwood said: “We are very grateful for the help from the three boys.

“People in the town centre were keen to speak to them about hate crime. They appreciated what we were doing to raise awareness on the day.”

A hate crime is any crime that is targeted against someone because of their disability or learning difficulties, race, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation.

Such incidents can be reported to either the police or a third party reporting centres, of which there are many in North Herts. A list is on the Herts Police website here.

You can also report hate crimes on 101. If a crime is in progress, call 999.