A visit from the Police and Crime Commissioner

On Wednesday 22nd January, we were delighted to welcome Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, to our Weekly Welcome event.

Commissioner Dungworth joined us for a delicious, home-cooked biryani, sharing a meal with members of our community while engaging in a conversation about policing, community safety and addressing hate crime across the region. She was joined by Nitin Shukla, Programme Lead – Hate & Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, who shared insights on the ongoing work to tackle hate crime and promote inclusion across the North East.

During her visit, we discussed WERS’ work and focused on our awareness-raising sessions, which we deliver across the region to challenge myths around migration. Commissioner Dungworth acknowledged that these sessions have become even more important in light of the racist riots in the summer of 2024.

We also took the opportunity to thank the Commissioner for her leadership and support during that difficult time. She was one of the first regional leader to strongly condemn the riots and the hateful rhetoric that fuelled them, setting a clear example that racism and xenophobia have no place in our society.