Victims of 'prejudice crime' who do not want to go to the police are being urged to report their grievances to staff at a Durham college.
Police are training staff at Darlington College to deal with victims of hate crime who can remain anonymous if they wish.
The college will be known as a third party reporting centre, police said.
Hate crime is an offence motivated by a dislike of race, colour, religion, gender, sexuality or disability.
A spokesman for Durham Police said: "The person reporting the offence does not have to leave their details and can remain anonymous throughout.
"If they request police to attend then an officer will make an appointment to meet them.
"If problems aren't reported to the police we have no chance of solving them."
BBC News
