Hate crime

Hate crimes and incidents can happen in many different ways. It can be because of hatred of someone’s race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or because of someone being a disabled person.

Hate crimes and incidents in any form are wrong and this is why it is important that if it happens to you or someone you know - it needs to be reported.

Reporting does make a difference - to you, your friends, and our community. By reporting hate crimes and incidents when they happen, you can stop it from happening to someone else. You will also help the Police to understand the level of hate crime and incidents in our local area and improve the way they respond to them.

What is hate crime?

A hate crime is any crime which is perceived, by the victim or anyone else, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards someone because of:

disability
race or ethnic origin
religion or belief
sexual orientation
transgender identity.

It can be against the individual or their property.

What is a hate incident?

Hate incidents are non-crime incidents, but can feel like a crime to those who suffer them. Just as a hate crime it is an incident that is perceived by the victim or anyone else, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards someone, because of:

disability
race or ethnic origin
religion or belief
sexual orientation
transgender identity.

The Police can only prosecute if the law is broken, but can work with partners in the community and with offenders to try and prevent these types of incidents happening and turning into hate crimes.

Full definitions of hate crimes and incidents are on the True Vision website, which is owned by the Association of Chief Police Officers and gives lots of useful information about hate crimes and incidents.

Examples of hate crimes and incidents

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. These incidents may include:

verbal abuse
physical assault
domestic abuse
harassment
damage to property.

If someone is bullied because of disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or transgender identity, this is also dealt with either as a hate crime or a non-crime hate incident.

Bullying includes:

name calling
being kicked or spat at
having your things taken or damaged.

You can find some examples of hate crimes on the Stop Hate UK website.

Other examples include:

physical attacks - such as physical assault, damage to property, offensive graffiti, neighbourhood disputes and arson
threat of attack - including offensive letters, abusive or obscene telephone calls, texts or emails, hanging around to intimidate you, unfounded malicious complaints
verbal abuse or insults - offensive leaflets and posters, abusive gestures, dumping rubbish outside homes or through letterboxes and bullying at school or at work.

How do I report a hate crime or incident?

Everyone has the right to live without fear and harassment, and so it is really important that you do report a hate crime or incident. You can report it in several ways, whether you have been a victim, a witness, or you are reporting on behalf of someone else.

In an emergency call 999

Deaf people can contact the emergency services through SMS text from your mobile phone, if you are registered with the emergency SMS. See the emergency SMS website for details.

Contact the police

You can speak to them in confidence. You don't have to give your personal details, but if the police cannot contact you, this limits the investigation and ability to prosecute.

You can contact the local police:

by telephone on 101 (non-emergency)
SMS text messaging for deaf people: 07800 002 414
email for deaf people: deafsms@derbyshire.pnn.police.uk
minicom or textphone: 18001 101
visiting your local police station
use the Derbyshire Constabulary website.

Crimestoppers

You can also contact the police anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Text Relay users should use 18001 0800 555 111.

Stop Hate UK

We know that not everyone wants or is able to contact the police to report hate crimes or incidents, so in Derbyshire you can report them and get initial support and advice through Stop Hate UK.

This is a 24-hour free phone service for victims and witnesses. Stop Hate UK is totally independent of the police and will not pass on callers details without your consent. If a caller wishes though, Stop Hate UK will report the incident to the police for you.

Contact them on 0800 138 1625 or for Deaf People Text Relay on 18001 0800 138 1625.

True Vision

This is a national police campaign aimed at raising awareness of hate crime, specifically in relation to transgender, sexuality, race and religion or belief.

Visit the True Vision website.