Hate Crime

Hate crime is any criminal offence committed against a person or property that is motivated by an offender's hatred of someone because of their:

• Race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality or national origins
• Religion
• Gender or gender identity
• Sexual orientation
• Disability

Hate crime can take many forms including:

• Physical attacks – such as physical assault, damage to property, offensive graffiti, neighbour disputes and arson.
• Threat of attack – including offensive letters, abusive or obscene telephone calls, groups hanging around to intimidate and unfounded, malicious complaints.
• Verbal abuse or insults - offensive leaflets and posters, abusive gestures, dumping of rubbish outside homes or through letterboxes, and bullying at school or in the workplace.

 

There are a number of ways to report Hate Crimes:

• Phone Dorset Police: 01202 222222.
• Call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
• Please go to the Dorset Police online reporting form to report hate incidents online to Dorset Police.

A Guide to Fighting Hate Crime| and a Hate Crime mini guide| are also available.

By reporting such incidents, even anonymously, it will help us to identify the issues in our community.

 

Find out about the Bournemouth & Poole Prejudice Free Forum here|

 

Disability-related Harassment and Hate Crime

In 2011 the Equality & Human Rights Commission| launched an inquiry into disability related harassment.  'Hidden in plain sight'| is the final report of the inquiry which uncovers that harassment is a commonplace experience for disabled people, but often a culture of disbelief and systemic institutional failures are preventing it from being tackled effectively.

In the follow-up to Hidden in plain sight, “Out in the Open – A Manifesto for Change|” the EHRC set out a wide range of formal responses from relevant organisations and set out final recommendations.

In response to these reports Bournemouth Borough Council are working with the Borough of Poole, Dorset Police, local voluntary organisations and others in the Criminal Justice system to ensure that disabled people know how they can report harassment and hate crime and crucially what support they will receive when they do report incidents.

Details of Support Available is here|

 

Useful National Links:

True Vision| - information about hate crime or incidents and how to report it.

Tell Mama| - MAMA is a public service for measuring and monitoring anti-Muslim attacks.

Community Security Trust| - if you are a victim of anti-Semitic incident or you have information regarding an anti-Semitic incident.