Hate crime reporting

Recognising a hate crime—it's not just offensive; it's an offence.

Have you experienced hate crime but not reported it because you thought nothing would happen?

"It happens all the time; nothing will change. It's not taken seriously enough anyway, so why would I report it? Why should I?"

Unfortunately, this is a common mindset. But we're here to challenge it and tell you why you should report a hate crime as a victim and bystander.

A hate crime takes away a person's freedom. It prays on our differences and makes people think they don't belong in society. It is a criminal offence driven by hostility and prejudice towards a protected characteristic. The 'hate' part of the crime is often more damaging than the actual crime and can prolong a sentence, which is why it needs to be reported.

What does it look like?

A hate crime is any criminal offence perceived by the victim, or anybody else, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards someone's protected characteristic. These characteristics may fall under:

Race
Religion
Sexual orientation
Disability
Transgender
Misogyny
Alternative sub-culture

Hate crimes can include verbal abuse, intimidation, threats, harassment/bullying, assault, and property damage, in person or online.

You may experience something that wasn't a "crime" by law, such as someone shouting abuse from their car or a harmful "joke" driven by hostility. But, if you believe it's motivated by prejudice against you, it's a hate incident and should be reported to the police.

Why should we report hate crimes as victims or bystanders?

Hate crimes are reported far less than any other crime. This is because the reporting system can be intimidating. But if they're not reported, victims may be left unsupported, which can cause devastating emotional damage.

If you're a victim of a hate crime, you may be able to recover from physical damage. But it's not as easy to get over an attack on who you are or who or what your attacker thinks you are. You deserve justice and support.

By reporting a crime driven by hate, you make it more likely someone will be held accountable for their actions. This may prevent someone else from experiencing a similar situation. You also help the police build a picture of what is happening locally, work to prevent it, and assign an appropriate sentence if the perpetrator is caught.

Reporting a hate crime

To report a crime, you need evidence. This is where witnesses, allies, and bystanders can play a key role in tackling hate crimes.

If you witness a hate crime or incident, don't assume the victim will report it. Unfortunately, victims are often unaware they've experienced a hate crime, as they've learned to tolerate the abuse they receive. This isn't something we should tolerate as a society.

It's important to know that hate crimes are recorded based on the perception of the victim or the bystander - so if you think a hate crime has occurred, you should report it, and not feel pressured if others tell you not to.

Your responsibilities as a witness to hate crime

There are two key things you can do as a bystander:

Report the crime
Support the victim

Even if the victim reports the crime, your input may be vital in securing a conviction. For instance, there may be CCTV evidence of abuse or property damage. But without sound, the hate element of the crime cannot be confirmed. Your eyewitness testimony can provide that confirmation.

Ways you can support the victim of a hate crime you witness:

Check in with them and see if they're okay.
Ask them if there's anything you can do. Assure them you would give a supporting statement if they wanted to report it to the police, but don't pressure them.
You can report anonymously through a third party.

How to report a hate crime

Want to report a hate crime to Nottingham Police?

Report a hate crime

How IAS can help

Anonymous reporting

If you don't want to deal directly with the police, we can help you report a hate crime anonymously. NTSUs Information and Advice Services act as a third-party hate crime reporting centre. We can anonymously report your incident to the police if you don't want to press charges.

All you have to do is book an appointment with one of our advisors to take the first step.

We also work with Nottinghamshire Police and True Vision to provide a free and confidential service offering emotional and practical support for dealing with and reporting hate crime incidents.

Peer-to-peer support

If you're unsure what to do but want to talk to someone who may have experienced something similar to you, get in touch with our Peer Support Scheme.

NTSU's Peer Support Scheme is built from a community of students who may have experienced discrimination, bullying, or harassment. The scheme aims to tackle isolation using peer support to help you process and deal with what you've experienced in a safe space.