Hate crime
Part of: Policing on the beat Protecting people from violence and abuse Victims and resolutions
Hate crime relates to any crime or incident where hostility or prejudice against an identifiable group of people is a factor in determining who is targeted. Crimes motivated by hate can have an intense, enduring and sometimes devastating effect on victims or communities.
Our inspections
Understanding the difference: the initial police response to hate crime – 19 July 2018
Based on findings from an initial scoping study (see below), this inspection examined how well forces understand all types of hate crime and how effective they are in identifying and recording hate crime and safeguarding victims.
We identify good ways of working which forces could consider when assessing their own approach to hate crime. We also make several recommendations to improve forces’ responses to hate crime and help make everyone safer.
As part of this work, we commissioned a research project to gather the experiences of hate crime victims.
Research report – Hate crime: what do victims tell us? – 16 October 2018
This research complements our inspection findings and gives a broader understanding of the effect these crimes have on their victims.
Hate crime scoping study – 23 November 2017
Before the EU referendum in 2016, the former Home Secretary commissioned HMICFRS to carry out an inspection of police forces’ understanding of, and response to, hate crime of all types.
Our work began with a preliminary scoping study to review what work had already been done in this area, and to propose priority areas for the inspection fieldwork.
Joint review of disability hate crime – follow up – 21 May 2015
Following our joint inspection published in March 2013 (see below), this review considered how the police, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and probation service providers (National Probation Service/Community Rehabilitation Companies) had responded to the seven recommendations made.
Living in a different world: Joint review of disability hate crime – 21 March 2013
This joint inspection assessed how the police, CPS and probation trusts deal with crimes against disabled people. This involved reviewing how the three agencies work and revealed problems in the detection and recording of crimes targeted against people because of their disability.
Further information
If you, or someone you know, is affected by any of the issues in these reports, help is available.
If you have been a victim of a hate crime, you should report it to your local police force by calling:
- 999 in an emergency; or
- 101 in a non-emergency.
There are also a range of agencies who give support and advice. Please visit True Vision’s website for a full list of agencies.
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