A pilot scheme to encourage victims and witnesses of hate crimes in Fenland to speak out is set to be extended across the county.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary want to see third party reporting centres expanded following the Fenland trial in which 20 centres were set up to give people extra ways of reporting incidents as an alternative to going to the police.

The issue was highlighted last month when a motion condemning racism, xenophobia and hate crimes was passed unanimously at Fenland District Council’s full meeting.

The motion was tabled after two councillors had been approached by residents wanting the council to send out a message.

Inspector Dean Wiffin, Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s lead on hate crime, said: “We need to expand third party reporting across the whole county. Fenland has been used as a pilot; elsewhere the opportunities for reporting are less well known and we need to improve on that.

“Like the rest of the country, historically we’ve experienced under-reporting of these crimes. I’m really keen to stress that we want to work with anyone affected so that they feel confident to come forward. We want to help people understand the reporting process and help them through it.”

• To report any hate crime, call 101 (or 999 in an emergency) or visit www.report-it.org.uk/home.

• Reporting centres in Fenland include New Vision Fitness leisure centres and one-stop shops and town council and Circle Roddons offices. Other centres in Wisbech include the Oasis and Rosmini centres, the Ferry Project, Octavia View, the Queen Mary Centre, and the Citizens Advice Bureau. Those in March include FACET and Young People March.