Hate crime

What is a hate incident or a hate crime?

A hate incident is any situation which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be driven by a hostility or prejudice based on a personal characteristic including race, religion or belief, disability, sexual orientation or identity.

A hate crime is a criminal offence that you or someone else believes was driven by hostility or prejudice based on the same personal characteristics.

You do not need to be certain which applies before reporting it. If you feel you have been targeted because of who you are, please tell the police and then report it to us.

What does a hate crime and hate incident look like?

Hate can include:

Abusive or threatening behaviour, including verbal abuse and online abuse

Deliberate, targeted behaviour intended to prevent you from living peacefully in your home or to make you move away

Offensive or threatening graffiti

Harassment, intimidation or persistent torment

Physical attacks against you or damage to your property

If you, a family member or someone you know experiences this behaviour, please report it.

How to report a hate crime or incident

In an emergency

If a crime is happening now or someone is in immediate danger, call 999 or 112.

If you cannot make a voice call, you can contact the emergency services by text using emergencySMS. You must register your mobile phone before you can use this service. Find out how to register here: https://www.skillbasefirstaid.com/emergency-sms-can-i-text-999/

Contact the police

If it is not an emergency, call 101, visit your local police station or contact your local police force. You can find out how to reach your local police force through www.police.uk

Contact us

Report the incident to us by completing our online form or by contacting us below.

Please report the incident within 72 hours where possible. If you have reported it to the police, include the crime reference number if you have one.

We’ll listen, take your report seriously and investigate what has happened. We’ll explain what we can do, agree the next steps with you and keep you informed. Where appropriate, we’ll work with the police and other partners and use the tools and powers available to help you and resolve the issue.

More information and support

If you have been affected by hate crime or a hate incident, support is available. Find information about help for victims of crime on the GOV.UK website.

You can also read our full Hate Incidents Policy here.