Hate crime

Hate crimes are directed against people because of some aspect of who they are, most often because they are from an ethnic minority or visible religious minority, or because of their sexuality.

Hate crime covers a wide range of behaviour, for example verbal abuse, racist or homophobic graffiti or physical assault. A crime can be classed as a hate crime if the victim or witness sees it as being so.

If you are the victim of what you think is a hate crime, it's not your fault. You have the right to live your life free from abuse and violence, whoever you are. You don't have to live with hate crime.

Police are trained to deal with hate crime with sensitivity and tact. They will not treat you differently because you are from an ethnic or religious minority, or because of your sexuality. A lot of police forces also provide self-referral forms, so you can report a crime without having to deal directly with the police.

If you have been a victim of a racist and religiously-motivated hate crime, you can contact:

• Your local police
• Your local race equality councils or voluntary groups (contact your local council)
• The Commission for Racial Equality

If you have been a victim of a homophobic hate crime, you can contact:

• Your local police
• Local voluntary or support groups

If you wish to pass on information about those committing hate crimes anonymously, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or fill out our anonymous online Giving Information Form.