POLICE have joined forces with Fife Council and six West Fife high schools to tackle hate crime and its rapid growth on social media, through an innovative video project.

And the pupils got the red carpet treatment as they showcased their films at a special screening at Dunfermline Odeon last week.

Fife Provost Jim Leishman was guest of honour and said: “Everyone involved in this project deserves huge credit for the strong message they have created and the quality of the films they have produced.

“It’s great to see our young people working so positively with Police Scotland and council officers to raise awareness of this problem.

“Hate crime is so destructive within our communities, and with the use and proliferation of social media it can be a blight on young lives.

“It is very encouraging to see these youngsters take a stand.”

Concerned about how social media was being used to broadcast and share hate crimes, the community policing team in Dunfermline came up with an idea for a video project to post on social media to raise awareness and put a stop to this abhorrent practice.

Constables Scott Morgan and Stewart Paton, of Dunfermline Central Ward Community Team, and the council’s Community Learning and Development (CLD) staff Corinne McGinley, Leanne Bower and Vikki Robertson, took the ‘Stop Hate’ video initiative to Beath, Dunfermline, Queen Anne, Inverkeithing, St Columba’s and Woodmill high schools, who embraced the idea.

This was followed up with workshop sessions on equality and prejudice, to assist the young people to share their views and help them develop content for the video.

PC Morgan said: “We discussed our idea for the project with the school deputes who instantly gave us their support and commitment.

“They backed our plan to develop short video trailers with pupils and staff about hate crime. Eight to 10 young people from each school representing groups commonly affected by hate crime and prejudice were invited to take part.

“They allowed pupils full creative control, with each school coming up with their own themed video trailer based on their own experience of hate crime in the school and across social media.”

Shirley Melville, CLD area team leader, said: “The response from the young people involved was honest and brave and this shines through in the films created by them.

“As a result, they are all being invited to take part in a national consultation event led by Young Scot, YouthLink Scotland and the Scottish Youth Parliament, asking young people what they think should be included in the review of hate crime legislation in Scotland.”

Each school developed its own video where the pupils have a scripted part to get the message of unity against hate crime across and communicate support for diversity.

The school rectors then all backed this initiative by recording messages that supported diversity and unity among their school pupils.

Fife Council modern apprentice in youth work digital engagement, Otto Cox, 19, took charge of the filming and editing throughout the summer, working with every group to capture their ideas in video format.