Overview
A hate crime is any criminal offence perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on:
- Disability
- Race or ethnicity
- Religion or belief
- Sexual orientation
- Transgender identity
This can include:
- verbal abuse
- threats
- harassment
- assault
- damage to property
- online abuse
Hate incidents that don’t meet the criminal threshold can still be very harmful and should also be reported.
Why reporting matters
Hate crime can have a serious impact on individuals, families, and communities. Reporting helps:
- prevent future incidents
- hold offenders to account
- ensure victims get the support they need
- build a better picture of what’s happening locally
Even if you don’t want to involve the police, you can still report and access support.