Hate incidents and crime

It is a human right to be safe and secure and to live free from fear or harassment. Hate incidents and crime are based on ignorance, prejudice, discrimination and hate and have no place in our society.

Hate incident / crime victims are often targeted against the most vulnerable of our society and the effects can have:

  • A marked and detrimental impact on the victim,
  • An impact on the feelings of safety in a community or section of a community,
  • An effect on cohesion.

Hate incidents / crimes are taken to mean any incident or crime where the perpetrators prejudice against an identifiable group of people is a factor in determining WHO is victimised. This is a broad and inclusive definition. A victim does not have to be a member of the group, in fact anyone can be a victim of hate crime or incidents.

Definitions

  • Hate incidents / crime: Any incident / crime which is perceived by the victim or any other person as motivated by prejudice or hate.
  • Racist incidents / crime: Any incident / crime which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person.
  • Homophobic incidents / crime: Any incident / crime which is perceived to be homophobic by the victim or any other person.
  • Transphobic incidents / crime: Any incident / crime which is perceived to be transphobic by the victim or any other person.
  • Disability incidents / crime: Any incident / crime which is perceived to be based on prejudice or hatred because of their disability by the victim or any other person.
  • Faith or religious belief incidents / crime: Any incident / crime which is perceived to be based on prejudice or hatred because of their faith or religious belief by the victim or any other person.

Hate incidents and crimes can be reported through a third party reporting centre such as libraries, local council offices and housing associations. However to ensure a swift response, serious offences should be reported straight away through our Force Control Room either 999 if a crime is in action or a life is threatened or 0845 60 60 24 7 if it is not an emergency situation.

Police officers in North Yorkshire Police will work in partnership with other agencies and support organisations to provide the required support to victims of hate incidents / crimes in the short term. In the long term we will work to eradicate hate incidents / crimes through education, training, awareness and the effective use of the legislative powers available.

A hate incident / crime is an attack on the emotional, spiritual and physical well being of the victim and touches the lives of many others within our community. North Yorkshire Police will not tolerate such attacks.

Hate incident / crime reporting

There are a number of ways you can report a hate incident / crime:

Even if you wish to remain anonymous the information you provide may be vital in helping us catch and bring to justice the people who commit these crimes. The value of community intelligence can never be underestimated in efforts to reduce crime.