PEOPLE are being urged not to be a bystander to hatred and prejudice during Greater Manchester Hate Crime Awareness Week.

Events are taking place across the region, including in Bolton, to raise awareness of hate crime and how residents can help to tackle it this week.

As part of the week, people are being urged to sign up to the 'Greater Manchester Promise' to never stand by if they see someone being targeted because of who they are.

The let's end hate crime promise states: "I’m proud that Greater Manchester is a place where everyone is free to be themselves: where no one should face violence, abuse or hatred just because of who they are, who they love, where they’re from, what they look like or what they believe.

If I see someone abused like this I won't stand by. I'll take a stand and: support them, challenge their abuser, if it's safe; and report it.

I make this promise to stand up for a Greater Manchester where we all look out for each other, we all stick up for each other, and we all stand together."

Be Safe, Bolton's community safety partnership, has given grants worth £14,000 to ten organisations to run events this week or to run longer-term projects.

Bolton Hindus' Age Inspiration is holding a workshop on how to report hate crime at Vishwa Hindu Parishad Centre, in Thomas Holden Street on Friday and Bolton Council of Mosques is running workshops for Muslim women facing discrimination.

Other events including Crompton Somali Association running workshops for women who have recently arrived from Somali and the African Community Association of Bolton is carrying out hate crime surveys.

There is also a chance to meet with a neighbourhood policing team and discuss hate crime

Officers will be at Morrisons, Blackhorse Street from 10.30am until 1.30pm tomorrow and at Bolton University from 11am until 12.30pm.

They will then be at Bolton Interchange from 11am until noon, Bolton Library from 1pm until 2pm and Morrisons in Chorley Old Road on Friday.

Officers will be at Bolton Market between 10am and 1pm on Saturday.

Cllr Derek Burrows, Bolton Council cabinet member for community safety, said: “Hate crime is totally unacceptable; it destroys lives and divides communities. It has no place in Bolton and we are working with our partners to end it.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe and we hope that this week and the events taking place will raise awareness of hate crime. We are also encouraging people to report hate incidents and Bolton’s hate incident reporting centres are safe places where people can feel confident doing so.”

To sign the pledge, go to www.letsendhatecrime.com/promise