I've been the Victim of Hate Crime

If you think you’ve been the victim of a hate crime or incident, you probably have. A ‘hate crime’ is defined as any offence which is committed against a person or property, which is motivated by the offender’s hatred of people, because they are seen as being ‘different’.

You don’t have to be from a minority community to be a victim of a hate crime.

Types of incidents could include verbal abuse, harassment, attacks, damage to your property, bullying or graffiti.

What can I report?

Any incident where you (or anyone else you know) has been targeted because you’re believed to be of a different race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or because you have a disabilty.  

Why should I report it?

Nobody should be victimised or targeted because someone else views them as ‘different’.

The police and other agencies can’t deal with those who commit hate crimes, if they don’t know who they are which is why it’s important to make a report.

How can I make a report?

You can report hate crime to the police on telephone 101 (non-emergency contact). In an emergency telephone 999.

You can also report hate crime to the police using an online reporting system or make a report at your local police station .

Whatever way you choose to make your report, be sure to state that you have been the victim of a hate crime, as there are specially trained police officers who can deal with your report.

If you would like advice about making a report, you can contact a Police Diversity Officer. You can speak to them anonymously and in confidence on telephone 101. You can also email swddiversity@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk.

Find out more

To find out more information about specifc hate crimes please follow the links below:

Disability hate crime

Forced marriage

Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender hate crime

Racial or religious hate crime