Your questions answered

• What is Hate crime?
• Why report hate crime?
• How do I report an incident?
• What is the eligibility criteria?
• What evidence is required?
• I can’t provide any evidence, is it still worth reporting?
• Can I make an anonymous report?
• What will happen once I have reported an incident?
• I am in danger now, What can I do?
• How long does it take to investigate an incident?
• Should I report the incident to the police?
• I am concerned about confidentiality, what can I do?
• I am a private resident, can you still help me?
• I am a business can you help me?
• What type of support can I get from the council?
• What can the council do to take action against perpetrators?
• What can the police do?
• What if I am not happy with the way my report is dealt with by the Council?
• Who else can support me?

^ top

What is Hate crime?

Hate crime is any criminal offence where anyone believes the victim has been targeted because of their race/ethnicity, religion/belief, gender/gender identity, disability, age, sexual orientation or any other actual or perceived difference.

Hate incidents are incidents that do not constitute a criminal offence but cause alarm, distress or harassment where anyone believes the victim has been targeted because of their race/ethnicity, religion/belief, gender/gender identity, disability, age, sexual orientation or any other actual or perceived difference.

Hate crimes and incidents can also be directed at whole communities – for example desecration of graveyards, vandalism of places of worship, offensive graffiti in public places, or acts of terrorism.

Hate crime can include verbal abuse, threatening behaviour, offensive graffiti, harassment, malicious communications, damage to property and violence. This includes all of the following:

• Disability incident - any incident which is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated on the grounds of their disability.
• Racial incident - any incident, which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person.
• Faith hate incident - any incident which is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by faith or religious hatred.
• Gender and gender identity incident – any incident which is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by sexism or hatred of transgendered people.
• Homophobic incident - any incident perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by hatred of lesbians and gay men.
• Age related incident – any incident which is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated on the grounds of their age.
• Gypsies and travellers – any incident which is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated on the grounds of their status.
• Newcomers – any incident which is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated on the grounds of their immigration status or nationality.

^ top

Why report hate crime?

Hate crime is a violation of personal and civil rights. Effective action against hate incidents can only be taken if these crimes be reported, to the police, council and all other appropriate agencies.

Only if hate crime is reported can we, together, take action to deal with it. No one has the right to harass, threaten or assault you because of who you are.

^ top

How do I report an incident?

• You can report an incident to the police on 999
• You can report an incident to the Council through our 24 hour free phone Hate Crime Reporting Line on 0800 138 0521
• You can report an incident online
• You can report incidents to the police and/or the council at third party reporting centres. For details of a centre near you, call the Hate crime policy and partnership team on 0207 364 6188
• You can report an incident at your local housing office.

^ top

What is the eligibility criteria?

Anyone can report hate crime to the council including:

• Residents
• Visitors to the borough
• Private tenants
• Local businesses
• Community and faith groups
• Employees

^ top

What evidence is required?

Any kind of evidence can help the council or the police in the process of investigation. In particular, it can help an investigation if you are able to provide:

• A description of the perpetrator(s)
• Details of any witnesses to the incident
• A diary record of any ongoing incidents and previous incidents you have experienced
• Original copies of any hate mail that has been sent to you
• Evidence of damage to property, graffiti etc. It is advisable not to clear these up before reporting the incident if possible.

^ top

I can’t provide any evidence, is it still worth reporting?

If you are not able to provide any of the above, do not let this deter you from reporting the incident. Even if we are not able to identify the perpetrators on this occasion, the information you provide may help us build up a picture of a problem in a particular area, and we may be able to take proactive action to try to tackle the problem.

^ top

Can I make an anonymous report?

Yes, it is possible to make an anonymous report. The information you provide will help us to be aware of problems in particular areas, but it will not be possible to offer you individual support following an anonymous report.

^ top

What will happen once I have reported an incident?

• The council aims to make contact with you within 48 hours of the incident being reported. This applies to incident reported via the internet, customer contact centre or in person.
• You will be sent a letter confirming receipt of the report within 48 hours of the report. The letter will contain the name and contact details of your investigation officer.
• The community safety victim & witness support team will contact you within 5 working days. If you wish they will be able to organise an appointment to see you to assess your support needs and give you information about the investigation process and other agencies that may be able to help you. You can contact the victim & witness support team on 020 7364 6318 9am – 5pm Monday – Friday.

^ top

I am in danger now, What can I do?

• Call the police and ambulance service immediately on 999
• Stay calm, keep yourself and your family safe, don't retaliate and wait for the police to arrive.

^ top

How long does it take to investigate an incident?

The length of the investigation is dependent upon each individual case. The more complex cases will take longer to investigate.

Your investigation officer will keep you informed about the progress of your case. As a general rule a case investigation can last from three to six months.

^ top

Should I report the incident to the police?

Yes. If you believe a crime has taken place, report it to the police immediately on 999 or contact the Police Community Safety Unit on 0207 515 1212.

^ top

I am concerned about confidentiality, what can I do?

The council takes confidentiality very seriously. If you are concerned, please inform the investigating officer. If the matter is not being resolved to your satisfaction you should follow our complaints procedure.

A dedicated investigation officer will be allocated to your case, which will involve interviewing you and any witness that can provide evidence to support your allegation. The investigating officer will decide on the appropriate outcome.

^ top

I am a private resident, can you still help me?

Yes we can help you but we advise that you check with your current landlord to see if they have a community safety or anti-social behaviour team, if so please report the incident to your landlord. 

If your landlord does not have a community safety or anti-social behaviour team we can take your report and initiate an investigation.

^ top

I am a business can you help me?

Yes we can. If this is the first time you are reporting an incident we can take a report now.

^ top

What type of support can I get from the council?

The victim & witness support team will ensure that victims and witnesses feel safe at home and can provide safety steps by supplying a fireproof letterbox, a spy-hole camera, personal alarms and other appropriate emotional and practical support according to individual needs. They can also refer you to other agencies for specialist support and advice.

The team will also brief and prepare witnesses throughout the court process to provide evidence in court.

^ top

What can the council do to take action against perpetrators ?

The council has a number of tools available to take action against perpetrators of hate crime. These may include one or more of the following:

• Issuing a Warning letter
• Setting an Acceptable Behaviour Contract with the perpetrator
• Seeking an injunction
• Demoting the tenancy - if the perpetrator is a council tenant
• Eviction or Notice of Seeking Possession - if the perpetrator is a council tenant
• Securing an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) against the perpetrator.

^ top

What can the police do?

The police can investigate the incident. If a crime has been committed the police can arrest the perpetrator, and if there is enough evidence to support a prosecution they can be charged with a criminal offence.

The case will then be taken to Magistrates or Crown Court for a trial. You may be asked to appear as a witness in court. If the perpetrator is found guilty they could face imprisonment or other forms of sentence (such as a Probation Order).

The Police Community Safety Unit is a specialist team that deals with all hate crime investigations. You can contact the CSU on 020 7275 4757.

^ top

What if I am not happy with the way my report is dealt with by the Council?

If you are not happy with the service provided you can either:

• Speak to the Community Safety Operations Manager on 020 7364 6107.
• Complain via the council’s corporate complaints procedure.

Who else can support me?

View our support services and useful contacts page for a list of support agencies and contacts for victims of hate crime.