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 disability or perceived disability; race or perceived race; or religion or perceived religion; or sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation or transgender identity or perceived transgender identity."
Any crime can be prosecuted as a hate crime if the offender has either:
- Demonstrated hostility based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity
or
- Been motivated by hostility based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity
Someone can be a victim of more than one type of hate crime.
Examples of hate crime
Hate Crime can be verbal, physical or inciting others to commit hateful acts. Examples of Hate Crime include but are not limited to:
- Spitting
- Physical attacks
- Verbal abuse
- Damage to property
- Offensive letters, leaflets, emails and texts
- Bullying and threats
- Abusive gestures.
A hate incident is any incident which the victim, or anyone else, thinks is based on someone’s prejudice towards them because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, alternative sub-culture (the way they dress or their lifestyle) or because they are transgender.
Hate incidents and crimes can have a damaging effect on people and on local communities and need to be reported so that others can be protected.
Reporting hate crime
If you feel that you are being targeted in this way or have witnessed a hate crime then you can report the incident to the police. In an emergency always call 999.
You can report hate crime at other reporting centres:
Support
If there is an incident that you feel is a hate crime we can provide support and help to resolve any issues you have as a consequence of experiencing or witnessing incidents.
For further help and advice you can also talk direct to your local Neighbourhood Police Team.
- Leigh - 0161 856 7225
- Wigan - 0161 856 7124.