What is a hate crime?
‘Hate incidents' and 'hate crimes' are terms used to describe acts of violence or hostility directed at people because of who they are or who someone thinks they are. They are motivated by hostility or prejudice based on disability, race, religion, transgender identity, or sexual orientation.
This can be an incident against a person or against property and includes materials posted online. A national anti-hate crime campaign, #BetterThanThat, has been backed by the government and has been launched in response to the rise in incidents after the EU referendum. The campaign is open to all organisations willing to support the fight against hate crime. The Police and the Crown Prosecution Service take all hate crime reports very seriously.
Hate incidents and crimes include bullying, harassment and sexual harassment which are contrary to the Equality Act 2010, which defines specific types of discrimination, and the University’s Student Disciplinary Procedure (Non-Academic) and Prevention of Bullying and Harassment, Sexual Misconduct and Victimisation Policy. For staff, these behaviours are also contrary to the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Employment Policy.
Some examples of hate incidents include:
- Verbal abuse like name-calling and offensive jokes
- Harassment
- Bullying or intimidation by children, adults, neighbours or strangers
- Physical attacks such as hitting, punching, pushing, spitting
- Threats of violence
- Hoax calls, abusive phone or text messages, hate mail
- Online abuse, for example on Facebook or Twitter
- Displaying or circulating discriminatory literature or posters
- Harm or damage to things such as your home, pet, or vehicle
- Graffiti
- Arson
- Throwing rubbish into a garden
- Malicious complaints, for example over parking, smells or noise
When hate incidents become criminal offences they are known as hate crimes. A criminal offence is something that breaks the law. Some examples of hate crimes include:
- Assaults
- Criminal damage
- Harassment
- Murder
- Sexual assault
- Theft
- Fraud
- Burglary
- Hate mail
- Harassment
Race and religious hate crimes are particularly hurtful to victims as they are being targeted solely because of their personal identity: their actual or perceived racial or ethnic origin, belief or faith. These crimes can happen randomly or be part of a campaign of continued harassment and victimisation. It is possible for systems and processes to be racist as well as people and groups. Specific forms of racism include:
- Anti-black racism - Practices and policies that mirror and reinforce beliefs, attitudes, prejudice, stereotyping and/or discrimination towards people of Black-African descent. (Adapted from Black Health Alliance)
- Antisemitism - “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance)
- Islamophobia - “Islamophobia is a form of racism that reworks and reproduces religious bigotry to discriminate against and harm Muslims, and people perceived to be Muslims. As with all forms of racism, it homogenises a diverse Muslim community as an unassailable Other, but specifically, it asserts a perception of inferiority, danger and cultural deviancy. It can operate directly through individual and interpersonal relationships, but also indirectly through institutional and structural forms that contribute to unequal treatment and outcomes for Muslims, and those perceived to be Muslim.” (Runnymede Trust)
Citizens Advice provides further information on racist and religious hate crime.
The Crown Prosecution Service sets out their policy and provides further information.
Homophobic and Transphobic Hate Crimes target people because of who they are. If you are threatened, harassed or attacked because you are LGBT+, you have experienced a hate crime. That includes people abusing you for being lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, non-binary, intersex or asexual. It also includes abuse based on someone’s race, faith or disability. (Galop)
Citizens Advice on Homophobic and Transphobic Hate Crime. Citizens Advice provides further information on homophobic and transphobic hate crime.
The CPS policy on Prosecuting Homophobic and Transphobic Hate Crimes sets out their policy and provides further information.
Disability hate crimes can cause people to feel or be unsafe through violence, harassment or negative stereotyping, and it has a significant impact on disabled people's sense of security and wellbeing. It also impacts significantly on their ability to participate both socially and economically in their communities.
Citizens Advice on Disability Hate Crime provides further information on disability related hate crime.
The CPS policy on prosecuting Disability Hate Crimes sets out their policy and provides further information.
What support is available from BCU for hate incidents and hate crimes?
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or are seriously injured, you can seek emergency support by calling 999. If you are on campus and need additional support, you can call Security on 0121 331 6969, they are available 24/7.
If you have experienced, or you know someone who has experienced bullying or harassment it can be helpful to talk about this with someone you trust. You can speak to the University Mental Health & Wellbeing Team, who have trained advisors to support students at BCU. The Mental Health & Wellbeing team are available Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.
BCU Disability Team have specialist advisors and can offer support and advice to all students.
You can also choose to speak to the Student Support Centre or to your personal tutor for support and guidance.
BCU’s wellbeing app is an online support service that can be accessed by BCU students and staff for free. There are self-help resources and information on anxiety, stress, managing emotions and building confidence readily available.
Extenuating Circumstances. If you feel your studies have been affected by what has happened, you can consider applying for extenuating circumstances.
If you are a member of staff, you can contact People and Culture, your HR partner will be able to identify the support that’s available for you. Staff members can also utilise the Employee Assistance Programme. If you are a member of a trade union, you may be able to access further support by getting in touch with them directly. The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team provides advice, support and guidance on equality, diversity and inclusion related issues to academic advisors and other staff in student-supporting roles.
If you are worried or concerned about someone else, find out more about how you can help them.
What support is available externally for hate incidents and hate crimes?
- True Vision offers guidance on reporting hate crime and hate incidents. If you do not wish to talk to anyone in person about the incident or wish to remain anonymous there is an online form for reporting hate crime; you can report non-crime hate incidents to the police to try and prevent any escalation in seriousness.
- Internet Hate Crime. True Vision also provide further information on internet hate crime.
- Citizens Advice provides some useful information on the different types of harassment and hate crime people may experience including disability hate crime, racist and religious hate crime, sexual harassment, and sexual orientation and transgender identity hate crime. Please see their support page for more information.
- LGBT Foundation has a number of groups covering a wide section of the LGBT community. They provide a safe and comfortable environment for people who may feel isolated, are coming out, or are new to the area.
- Disability Equality NW runs the Developing from the Negatives Project (DFN) which aims to raise awareness of Disability Hate Crime and encourage reporting.
- Tell MAMA supports victims of anti-Muslim hate and is a public service which also measures and monitors anti-Muslim incidents.
- Community Security Trust (CS) helps those who are victims of anti-Semitic hatred, harassment or bias.
- Victim Support. When you report a crime to the police, they should automatically ask you if you would like help from an organisation like Victim Support. But anyone affected by crime can contact them directly – you don’t need to talk to the police to get Victim Support help.
- Muslim Safety Net is a specialist helpline providing support to individuals who have experienced anti-Muslim hostility, discrimination and hate crime.
- Look at the NHS guidance on 5 steps to positive mental wellbeing.
- Access some self-help resources available on iCity.
Reporting hate incidents and hate crimes
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or are seriously injured, you can seek emergency support by calling 999. If you are on campus and need additional support, you can call Security on 0121 331 6969, they are available 24/7.
Hate crimes hurt individuals and communities, and reporting it allows the University and the police to better understand and deal with what is happening.
We encourage concerns of hate incidents and hate crimes to be raised via Report and Support. This system can be used by staff or students; you can choose to do this either anonymously or you can report with your contact details. If you choose to report with contact details, an advisor will be able to talk you through the options and support available to you, in confidence. You can report an incident no matter where it took place.
If you choose to make a formal complaint [LW1] to the University about a student or member of staff, there are procedures which set out the steps you'll need to follow.
- For students: Student Complaints Procedure, this is dealt with by Student Governance.
- For staff: Grievance Policy, this is dealt with by People and Culture.
If you are worried or concerned about someone else, find out more about how you can help them.
If you would like to submit information on a support service you think might help others, please contact us.