Hate Crime

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A hate crime is when someone commits a crime against you because of your disability, gender identity, race, sexual orientation (who you are attracted to), religion, or any other difference. It is a crime and is against the law.

It doesn’t always include physical violence. Someone using offensive language towards you or harassing you because of who you are, or who they think you are, is also a crime. The same goes for someone posting abusive or offensive messages about you online.

Help not Hate!

Hate crime can fall into one of three main types:

Physical assault

Physical assault of any kind is an offence. If you’ve been a victim of physical assault you should report it. Depending on the level of the violence used, the attacker may be charged with common assault or bodily harm, which can come with maximum sentence of life in prison.

Verbal abuse

Verbal abuse, threats or name-calling can be a common and an extremely unpleasant experience.

Victims of verbal abuse are often unclear whether an offence has been committed or believe there is little they can do, but this is not true. If you are unsure, it is important to report your concerns and experiences anyway so that this can be investigated and you can receive any support you might need. There are laws in place to protect you.

Incitement to hatred

Incitement to hatred means when someone tries to make other people angry or upset about a person or group because of things like their race, religion, or who they love. This can happen when someone says or does something on purpose to make others dislike, hurt, or be mean to a certain group of people. It's wrong because it spreads hate and can lead to bullying, violence, or unfair treatment. Everyone should be treated with respect, no matter who they are.

Reported hate crimes have more than tripled since 2013 in the UK and affect many people, families and communities across our country.

It is very important to report hate crimes, or something you think might be a hate crime, to make sure that you get any support that you might need, and so people who commit hate crimes can be brought to justice.

You can report hate crimes by:

Calling the Police - 999 in an emergency, 101 if no-one is in immediate danger
Online at report-it.org.uk
Call, text or live chat on Stop Hate UK
Anonymously (without sharing your identity) at Fearless.org
In person at a community hub, family hub, the council buildings or the police station

If you have been affected by a hate crime, you can get support in the following places:

This page was written by students at St Hild's Church of England VA School.