If you experience Hate Crime:
- As soon as you can, go somewhere you know is safe and get help
- In an emergency call 999. Otherwise call the police on 101
- Tell the police what has happened and why you think it is a hate crime
- If you do not have the confidence to talk to the police you can report it via Hate Incident Reporting Centres (HIRCs), report on-line at Report it org.uk or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Hatred is a strong term that goes beyond simply causing offence or hostility. A Hate Crime is any criminal offence committed against a person or property that is motivated by an offender's hatred of someone because of their:
- disability
- race or ethnicity
- religion or belief
- sexual orientation
- transgender identity
Hate Crime can take many forms including:
- physical attacks – such as physical assault, damage to property, offensive graffiti, neighbour disputes and arson
- threat of attack – including offensive letters, abusive or obscene telephone calls, groups hanging around to intimidate and unfounded, malicious complaints
- verbal abuse or insults - offensive leaflets and posters, abusive gestures, dumping of rubbish outside homes or through letterboxes, and bullying at school or in the workplace
This can be committed against a person or property.
A victim does not have to be a member of the group at which the hostility is targeted. In fact, anyone could be a victim of a hate crime.
Reporting Hate Crime
If offenders are going to be punished, Hate Crimes must first be reported to the police, in an emergency always call 999 and in a non emergency call 101.
Alternatively, you can report Hate Crime:
- Report hate crime
The details you provide on the online secure form will be kept private and confidential, however, the information will be shared with relevant agencies to ensure that victims receive the most appropriate support. - Essex Police reporting Hate Crime
- You can also report crime anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
The following websites offer more advice about Hate Crime:
- Victim Support
- Equality and Human Rights Commission
- Citizen’s Advice Bureau - Hate Crime
- Galop - London's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community safety charity
Brentwood has 3 HIRCs at the following locations:
Brentwood Borough Council
Town Hall, Ingrave Road,
Brentwood,
Essex
CM15 8AY
Frontline Partnership
Sawyers Church,
Sawyers Hall Lane,
Essex
CM15 9BN
SNAP
The SNAP Centre
Pastoral Way
Warley
Brentwood
Essex
CM14 5WF