Hate Crime Advice

Follow the advice below if you have been a victim or are have witnessed hate crime:

Personal Safety Tips

• Stay alert, awareness is your best defence
• Leave venues with friends wherever possible
• Be confident – even if you don’t feel it
• Walk as if you know where you are going
• Trust your instincts: If you think something is wrong then act on it
• Have you keys in your hand when you reach your home or car
• Keep money for taxi, the expense is worth it
• Carry a personal alarm and use it.

If You Are a Victim

• Make as much noise as you can
• As soon as you can, go somewhere you know is safe
• Get help immediately
• In an emergency ring 999
• If you have the confidence, tell the police why you think you were attacked
• If you have been attacked, don’t shower or change you clothes, you may destroy evidence
• If you have had your keys taken, change your locks
• Don’t drink alcohol, you need to give a clear account of what happened
• Use the reporting systems to report incidents if you don’t have the confidence to tell the police
• Use a third party reporting centre or use the self reporting form available on this site.

If You Are a Witness

• In an emergency ring 999
• Stay alert and safe
• Don’t physically intervene, you could get hurt
• As soon as you can, write down everything that you remember about the incident
• Report the incident either to a local support agency or to the police directly

Hate crime hurts, it can be confusing and frightening.  By reporting it the police, you may be able to prevent these crimes happening to someone else.