When Britain's Got Talent finalists Electric Umbrella asked for Herts police back up, they were talking about our hate crime officers and constabulary choir's singing voices!

A song and accompanying video It's Not A Crime To Be Different — Electric Umbrella x Hertfordshire Constabulary co-written and performed by talented learning-disabled musicians and Hertfordshire Constabulary's Hate Crime Officers, was released to mark National Hate Crime Awareness Week..

Watford and Three Rivers Hate Crime Officer PC Danielle Murphy was honoured to visit 10 Downing Street with charity Electric Umbrella last Tuesday 14 October as part of the launch effort and she even got to meet Larry, the famous Downing Street cat!

On Wednesday 15 October, the rock group performed as part of a county event at Hatfield's Fielder Centre focused on disability hate crime attended by 80 delegates from local authorities, education, charities and community groups. 

There were moving presentations, with victims sharing lived experience, including Mike Pope from the Dwarf Sports Association UK, presentations and group exercises led by Beacon Victim Care and the Crown Prosecution Service, as members of the Hertfordshire Hate Crime Partnership Board, with support of students from the University of Hertfordshire.

Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner, opened the event, saying: ""Herts is a county for everybody, and we cannot allow hate to fester – we need to work hard to encourage community cohesion. I know a large amount of work is being done to encourage reporting and we can all help with this."

Mel Boda, Co-founder and CEO of Electric Umbrella, said: "When people and organisations come together with purpose, real progress is possible. We are so proud to partner with Hertfordshire Constabulary to challenge hate and remind everyone that it's not a crime to be different.

"At times like these, fostering understanding and unity is more important than ever. We encourage everyone to support this campaign and help us create safer, more inclusive communities."

Superintendent Ben Wright, Herts police strategic lead for hate crime, said: "We were delighted to join forces with Electric Umbrella as part of this year's Hate Crime Awareness Week, with Hertfordshire Constabulary's Choir helping to sing the chorus, and some of our Hate Crime Officers joining in to create a fun song with a strong message.

"We hope that Electric Umbrella's song, written and performed by a fabulous group of people with disabilities and learning disabilities, supported by Herts police, will entertain and educate, giving more people the confidence to report hate crime. The message is that it's not a crime to be yourself and if you are targeted because of your identity, it is a hate crime – don't ignore it, report it. Hate crime is not tolerated in Hertfordshire and the police treat all reports seriously."

Hate crimes include assaults, threats or acts of vandalism, or any other crime committed against someone because of their:

• Disability
• Race or ethnicity
• Religion or belief
• Transgender identity
• Sexual orientation.

 Hertfordshire Constabulary has specialist hate crime officers to tackle and challenge these incidents, educate people and support those who have been affected.