Why should I report hate crime?

 

By reporting incidents, you will enable patterns to be built up of behaviour locally, and highlight areas of concern within your community. More importantly, you can get the support you may need and help ensure that offenders are brought to justice and cannot do the same to other people.

​

Reporting makes a difference - to you, your friends, and your life.

​

What is a hate crime ?

​

Any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a personal characteristic.

 

The law recognises five types of hate crime on the basis of:

• Race

• Religion 

• Disability

• Sexual orientation 

• Transgender identity

​

Any crime can be prosecuted as a hate crime if the offender has either:

• demonstrated hostility based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity

Or

• been motivated by hostility based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity

​

Someone can be a victim of more than one type of hate crime.

​

These crimes are covered by legislation (Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and section 66 of the Sentencing Act 2020) which allows prosecutors to apply for an uplift in sentence for those convicted of a hate crime.

​

The police and the CPS have agreed the following definition for identifying and flagging hate crimes:

​

"Any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice, based on a person's disability or perceived disability; race or perceived race; or religion or perceived religion; or sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation or transgender identity or perceived transgender identity."

​

There is no legal definition of hostility so we use the everyday understanding of the word which includes ill-will, spite, contempt, prejudice, unfriendliness, antagonism, resentment and dislike.

​

What is a third party reporting centre?

​

There are a few ways to report a hate crime. You can call 999 (emergency) or 101 (non-emergency), go in person at any police station, or report online.

​

It is widely accepted that hate crimes are under reported. Not all victims are comfortable with reporting their experiences directly to the police. Some victims may find visiting police stations intimidating or daunting, some may not be aware of alternative ways of reporting, or they fear being outed in terms of their sexuality or trans identity. Third party reporting centres (TPRCs) overcome these barriers by providing an alternative way to report a hate crime. They give confidential advice, help you report it, and support you along the way. You can remain anonymous if you wish, and you don’t need to have contact with the police if you don’t want to.

​

If you feel you would be more comfortable reporting the matter to someone in your community who you are more comfortable with. You can contact SAYiT who are a third-party reporting centre and tell us about the crime.

​

We ensure you can report a hate crime in a welcoming, supportive and confidential setting. Our third-party reporting centre staff have been trained to assist you to submit a report and can make the report on your behalf.

​

What will happen when I make a report?

​

Our centre staff will ask you some questions and take details of the incident. This can be done over the phone or you can make an appointment to come in and speak to one of our staff in person.

​

The information you provide will be shared with the relevant police force. You can choose whether you want to share your details or to make the report anonymously.

​

If you choose to share your information, the police will be able to follow this up with you for further investigation and possibly pursue a prosecution.

​

If you choose to make the report anonymously the police may not be able to follow up and fully investigate the specific incident, however it still provides useful information to enable patterns to be built up of behaviour locally, and highlight areas of concern within your community.

​

Our staff will also signpost you to any further support that may be available to you, either within SAYiT (8-25 only) or with external agencies, and will make any relevant referrals.

​

Other ways to report

​

There are several ways you can report a hate crime, whether you have been a victim, a witness, or you are reporting on behalf of someone else:

​

In an emergency

• call 999 or 112.

• If you're deaf or hard of hearing, use our textphone service 18000 or text us on 999 if you’ve pre-registered with the emergency SMS service.

​

Contact the police

• Call 101 for non-emergency enquiries.

• If you're deaf or hard of hearing, use our textphone service on 18001 101.

• By visiting your local police station. Details on how to contact your local police force can be found at www.police.uk .

​

Crimestoppers

• If you want to pass details of a hate crime (or any other) offender but do not want to talk to the police, you can call 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.