Incidents and crime that are targeted at a person because of hostility or prejudice towards their disability, race /ethnicity, religion/belief, sexual orientation or transgender identify are classified as hate incidents or crime. Research tells us that over 60% are never reported to the Police.

Hate crime is defined as:
Any hate incident which constitutes a criminal offence perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by prejudice or hostility.

A consistent and compassionate approach to victims and communities will improve:

• People’s awareness of what should not be tolerated- hate crimes and incidents.
• People’s confidence to report crime.

Most victims of hate incidents and crimes just want it to STOP.

DO – take all reports of hate incidents and crimes seriously. The victim impact will be significant even though the incident may appear minor.

DO – take positive action for making the offending behaviour stop. It doesn’t have to be the victim that reports Hate Crimes/ incidents.

DON’T– assume it is someone else’s problem. We all have a responsibility to fight Hate Crime

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