Dealing with hate crime

Hate crime is an extreme manifestation of prejudice and discrimination. It can have a devastating effect on victims and on whole communities. Tower Hamlets Council works closely in partnership with the police and other agencies to prevent all forms of hate crime, take action against perpetrators and support and protect victims.

In partnership the Council encourages anyone who is the victim of, or witness to, hate crime to report it immediately. This is vital to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. The partnership send strong messages that hate crime will not be tolerated in Tower Hamlets.

What is a 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.

View the hate crime manual