Hate Crime: What It Is and How to Report It

16 hours ago

2 min read

This October, as part of Hate Crime Awareness Week, Citizens Advice Stevenage is helping to raise awareness of hate crime and the support available to those affected.

Hate crimes and hate incidents can be frightening and upsetting for individuals and whole communities. Whether you have experienced hate crime yourself or witnessed it happening to someone else, knowing how to recognise it and report it can make a difference.

What is Hate Crime?

A Hate Crime is when someone commits a crime motivated by prejudice or negative attitudes towards a person:

Because of your race or religion
Because of your religion or belief
Because of your sexuality
Because you’re disabled
Because you’re transgender

For example, if someone used racist or homophobic language directly or indirectly aimed at you.

Closely linked to hate crime is a hate incident

A hate incident is when someone behaves in a hostile or abusive way towards someone because of who they are, but their actions do not amount to a crime. For example, if someone shouts racial or homophobic slurs at you but walks away without making threats or blocking your path.

If you experience repeated hate incidents from the same person or group, this may amount to harassment. Harassment can be a crime.

Reporting Hate Crime

If you experience or witness a hate crime or hate incident, you can report it directly to the police. However, you don’t have to report it alone.

As a Hate Crime Reporting Centre, Citizens Advice Stevenage provides a safe and supportive place where you can report a hate crime or hate incident and receive information about the support available to you. You can also report an incident on behalf of someone else, making it easier for people who may feel unable or uncomfortable reporting it themselves.

Our Deputy Head of Advice, Ryann Hansen, says: “Hate crime can leave lasting effects on individuals and communities. By being a Hate Crime Reporting Centre, we help turn experiences into action, ensuring people receive support, incidents are recorded, and each report contributes to a safer community for all.”

If you or someone you know has experienced a hate crime or hate incident, you can contact Citizens Advice Stevenage to find out how we can support you and help you report what happened.

Citizens Advice Stevenage also has a form which allows anonymous reporting if you have experienced a hate crime, or witnessed one. Click here to anonymously report a Hate Crime.

Alternatively, you can report a hate crime through other third-party reporting organisations, including:

Stevenage Borough Council