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Hate crime
If you think you, or someone you know, has fallen victim of a hate crime please report it.
In the event of an emergency call 999.
For a non-emergency visit Cambridgeshire Police website to submit an online report, or call 101.
Alternatively, you can report hate crime at one of the district’s third party reporting centres:
Ely
East Cambridgeshire District Council offices at The Grange, the Lighthouse and the Kite Trust
Littleport
Sutton
Fordham
Or online at True Vision
Hate crime is the term used to describe an incident or crime against someone based on a part of their identity.
The law recognises five types of categories of hate crime on the basis of:
- race
- religion
- disability
- sexual orientation
- transgender identity
Hate crimes are covered by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and Section 66 of the Sentencing Act 2020.
A hate crime is defined as 'Any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person's race or perceived race; religion or perceived religion; sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation; disability or perceived disability and any crime motivated by hostility or prejudice against a person who is transgender or perceived to be transgender.'
Although there is no legal definition of hostility, the everyday understanding of the word is used which includes ill-will, spite, contempt, prejudice, unfriendliness, antagonism, resentment and dislike.
Not all hate incidents will amount to criminal offences, but it is equally important that these are reported and recorded by the police.
Evidence of the hate element is not a requirement. You do not need to personally perceive the incident for it to be hate related. It would be enough if another person, a witness or even a police officer thought that the incident was hate related.
There are three main types of hate crime; physical assault, verbal abuse and incitement to hatred.
Physical assault
Physical assault of any kind is an offence, which should be reported. Depending on the level of violence used, a perpetrator may be charged with common assault, actual bodily harm or grievous bodily harm.
Verbal abuse
Verbal abuse, threats or name-calling can be common and an equally unpleasant experience for minority groups.
Incitement to hatred
The offence of incitement to hatred occurs 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.
Example of 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
What you can do
Firstly, remember that the attacker(s) made the choice to commit a hate crime, so it is their fault that it happened, not yours.
There are a few things you can do to make you feel safer, and be safer:
- improve your basic home security, for example by adding locks and bolts to doors and windows
- keep a note of all incidents. Include time, date and details of what happened
- if you decide to report the crime to the police, take someone with you for support
- if you come into contact with the person responsible for the crime, move to a more public place and try to get away safely
- remove your phone number and profile from any public lists
- change your email address, and/or block any email addresses sending you unwanted emails
- block the offender from your social media profiles
Support organisations
The following organisations can offer support and advice if you have been the victim of hate crime:
Victim Support
Charity that works with all people affected by crime in England and Wales. This includes victims, witnesses, their family and friends.
Stop Hate UK
Charity that works to challenge all forms of hate crime and discrimination and provides confidential reporting and support.
Call Hate Out
This is a confidential 24-hour support service for young people under 18.
ChildLine
A confidential and free online and phone counselling service for those aged under 19 anywhere in the UK, available by phone on 0800 1111 and online.
CrimeStoppers
If you have information about people who commit hate crimes and do not want to talk to the police, you can contact CrimeStoppers anonymously. You do not have to give your name and you will never have to give a statement to the police, or go to court. You can telephone CrimeStoppers on 0800 555111.
True Vision
Many other organisations can be found on the True Vision website.