Hate Crimes
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Hate
Crimes Report it!
Hate Crime is a criminal
offence. It happens when someone subjects someone else to
harassment, victimisation, intimidation or abuse because of their
race, faith, religion, gender, disability or because they are
lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered.
A victim of Hate Crime doesn't have to be a member of a minority
community or someone who is generally considered to be a vulnerable
person - in fact anyone can be a victim.
The police use the following definition when recording a Hate
Crime:
"A crime where the perpetrator's prejudice against any
identifiable group of people is a factor in determining who is
victimised."
Hate Crime can take many forms, and it is not always easy to
identify that what has happened is actually a crime. For
example:
- Physical attacks, being assaulted
- Harassment
- Threats
- Disputes with your neighbours
- People swearing at you or making abusive remarks
- People doing things that frighten, intimidate or distress
you
- Bullying
- Arson
- Spitting, insulting gestures
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Report
it!
If you have been the victim of a Hate Crime, you should report
it. You can also report it if you are a witness or if you have been
told about it by someone else. There are a number of ways you can
do this:
1) In an emergency, dial 999. If there is no immediate danger,
you can report the incident to the Hate Crime team at the West
Mercia Police on 0300 333 3000, or call into any police station.
Alternatively, you can report a hate crime on-line by visiting
http://www.report-it.org.uk/.
This is the website of the True Vision initiative instigated by the
Police. The Police will take your complaint seriously, and
thoroughly investigate it.
2) Report it to the Hate Incident Partnerships:
or the Worcestershire Racial Equality Council - 01905 29283 or
http://www.worcestershirerec.org.uk/
3) The Citizens
Advice Bureau can give you advice about what to do. In some
cases, they may also be able to give you legal assistance and help
you to bring your case before a court or tribunal.
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