What is a hate crime or incident?
A hate incident is any incident which is perceived by the victim or any other person to have been motivated by hostility or prejudice towards someone’s race, disability, religion, sexual orientation or transgender identity (or their perceived identity).
Hate incidents and hate crimes should not be tolerated and should be reported
How can I report hate crime?
There are several ways you can report a hate crime, as a victim, witness, or reporting on behalf of someone else:
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In an emergency: call 999
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Contact the police, who you can speak to in confidence. You do not have to give your personal details, but the investigation and ability to prosecute the offender(s) is limited if the police cannot contact you. After reporting, you will be contacted and supported by a Hate Crime Officer who has been trained in understanding hate crime and how it affects people.
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Third party reporting centres. Local agencies, such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, can report the incident on your behalf and provide you with advice and support.
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Crimestoppers. You can report a hate crime by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via their website at
www.crimestoppers-uk.org. You do not have to give your name and what you say is confidential. It is free to call.
Do I have to be able to prove the crime was a hate crime for it to be considered a hate crime?
No. If the victim or witness believes the crime was motivated by hate then it will be treated as such
Can the criminal justice system apply stronger sentences to perpetrators of hate crime?
Yes. Hate crimes can lead to convictions and in certain cases the Crown Prosecution Service can apply stronger sentences because they are based on hate.
Can hate crime be reported even if the perpetrator cannot be clearly described?
Yes. Any information you give on an incident could be important and may relate to a similar incident that has happened to someone else in an area. The police may know the perpetrator and may be able to find CCTV footage of the occurrence.
For something to be classed as a hate crime, does it have to be a serious crime motivated by hostility or prejudice?
No. Hate crime and incidents can include harassment, name calling or anything that is unwanted and motivated by prejudice.
You should not put up with any form of prejudice and if the police are aware of people carrying out hate incidents, they may be able to prevent them from escalating into more serious hate crimes.
Can only the victim report hate crime?
No. All hate crimes and incidents should be reported, whether you have been a victim, a witness or you are reporting on behalf of someone else.
Hate crimes and incidents hurt; they can be confusing and frightening. By reporting them when they happen to you, you may be able to prevent these incidents from happening to someone else. You will also help the police understand the extent of hate crime in your local area so they can better respond to it.