A GROUND-BREAKING scheme to help victims of racist and homophobic incidents is to be launched next week.

New advice surgeries have been established in Todmorden and the surrounding area.

Victims of racist and homophobic incidents who visit the surgeries will be able to seek help from a range of organisations, including West Yorkshire Police, Victim Support, Calderdale Council, and Pennine Housing 2000. Calderdale already has 35 Hate Incident Reporting Centres, part of an initiative by the Calderdale Multi-Agency Panel.

The existing centres offer facilities to report racist and homophobic incidents at locations other than police stations across Calderdale.

The new surgeries will differ from these centres in offering a complete range of advice to victims on the one site.

The chairman of Calderdale's Racial Harassment Multi-Agency Panel, Mohammed Najib, said: "The new surgeries mean that victims of racist or homophobic incidents will be able to receive advice from a range of agencies at a single location.

"Often, people who have been the victims of such incidents need either emotional support, or practical advice on benefits or housing issues.

"With these surgeries, we will be able to provide positive and effective support to victims."

Calderdale Council cabinet member, Coun Ann McAllister, said she was pleased that the council and its partners were working together to provide a co-ordinated approach to helping victims.

"Hate crimes against anyone are completely unacceptable.

"The existing Hate Incident Reporting Centres have successfully provided places where victims can report crimes.

"These new surgeries will further improve the service, offering a package of help and advice."

Helen Whale, manager of Victim Support, added: "The surgeries will provide victims with a dedicated team of specialised volunteers and staff from victim support who will be able to offer emotional support to victims of racist and homophobic incidents.

"The main aim is for victims to feel comfortable, to be able to come forward and report these incidents, and receive the support and advice they may need."

West Yorkshire Police's Community and Race Relations Officer, Inspector Mick Hanks, said: "These services are an essential part of helping to improve people's quality of life and provide support for both victims and witnesses of racist and homophobic incidents, as well as bringing those responsible for such incidents to justice."

The Todmorden surgery will be based at Customer First, Todmorden Community College, Burnley Road, and will open every second Friday between 10am and noon.