What is Hate Crime?

A Hate Crime is any criminal offence that is motivated by hostility or prejudice based on the victim's:

• Race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality or national origins (including prejudice against Gypsy's and Travellers
• Religion and faith (including no faith)
• Gender or gender identity often referred to as transphobia - resentment or fear of transgender people, transsexuals or transvestites
• Sexual orientation including homophobia, the resentment or fear of gay, lesbian and bisexual people
• Disability (including sensory, physical or mental impairment or learning difficulties)
• Age
  
  

Hate Crime takes many forms including:

• Physcal attacks such as physical assault, damage to property, offensive graffiti, neighbour disputes and arson
• Threat of attack including offensive letters, abusive or obsence phone calls, unfounded, malicious complaints, groups hanging around to intimidate, dirty looks and intimidating stares.
• Verbal abuse or insults and abusive gestures
• Other abuse, such as offensive leaflets and posters, the dumping of rubbish outside homes or through letterboxes, theft or fraud, bullying at home, online, at school or in the workplace.
  
  
  

Hate crime affects people:

The effects of hate crime vary, but often include:

• anger and fear of repeat attacks
• depression and a worsening of existing health conditions, including mental health issues
• a financial burden, for example, having to replace and repair vandalised property, or having to take time off work
• victims changing their personal appearance, accommodation and, or daily patterns to avoid being victimised
  
  
  

FACTS