Hate crime

What is hate crime?

Hate crime is an act of violent behaviour or hostility that is usually motivated by hatred of a person’s disability, age, race, religion, transgender identity or sexual orientation.
Hate crime falls into three main types:

1. Physical assault

All physical assaults are an offence. Let us know if you believe the assault was motivated by hate towards the victim. 

2. Verbal abuse

Often victims and witnesses alike are unclear whether an offence has been committed or believe that there is little they can do. Be confident there is always something you can do, and that is tell us what you know - even if your information doesn't lead to an arrest, it could help law enforcement police the area where the offence took place.  

3. Incitement to hatred

This is when someone acts in a way that is threatening and intended to stir up hatred. That could be in words, pictures, videos or music, and includes information posted on websites.

Hate content may include:

• messages calling for violence against a specific person or group
• web pages that show pictures, videos or descriptions of violence against anyone due to their perceived differences
• chat forums where people ask other people to commit hate crimes against a specific person or group

You can be the change. Did you see something, but didn’t say anything? You have a second chance to act and stand up for victims of hate crime.

Read more about our anonymity guarantee

Got information about someone committing hate crimes? Tell us online, here on our website, 100% anonymously:

give information anonymously

These crimes, if left unchecked, can become a massive blight on communities as victims may be subjected to physical assaults or suffer damage to their property. They may also experience the threat of an attack or verbal abuse.

Hate crime is thought to be massively under-reported as many people accept incidents as ‘part of life’ and do not realise that the abuse they are suffering is a crime. They may also mistakenly believe that nothing will be done about it.

Crimestoppers believes that this type of behaviour is never acceptable which is why we always encourage people to come forward with information.

If you know someone who may be violent or abusive to someone because of their disability, race, religion, transgender identity or sexual orientation then contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via our anonymous online form.

Are you a victim of hate crime?

 Due to our anonymity guarantee, we can't take information from victims of hate crime. In an emergency, always call 999. If you are a victim of hate crime, call the police or contact Victim Support who, if you decide to report the crime, can help you navigate the criminal justice system and make a compensation claim.

Nothing to report?

• Learn more about the difference between hate incidents and hate crime. 
• In the event you witness a hate crime, be prepared by learning safe ways to support victims there and then.
• Volunteer with Crimestoppers to raise awareness of our unique crime reporting service in your community.

August 12 2024