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What is a Hate Crime and Hate Incident?

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Whether you’re a student or a staff member, any form of hate is never okay and is not tolerated at the University of Cumbria, as is covered in our  University Inclusivity Statement. If you experience any form of hate, bullying, harassment, stalking or sexual misconduct, then we encourage you to report your concerns to You Report, We Support.

Please note: Your report will not trigger a formal complaints process, and the advisor can confidentially speak to you about both your reporting and support options. You will never be forced to submit a report to the police, or a Formal Complaint to the University - as this is your choice. 

What is considered a Hate Crime and/or Hate Incident?

Currently there are five characteristics that are given special protection, and are the characteristics that hate crimes can be committed based upon. The police and Crown Prosecution Service define hate crimes and hate incidents as being motivated by hostility or prejudice based on one of the following:
Protected Characteristics Banner, An image of the protected characteristics disability, race, religion, transgender identity, sexual orientation

There is a difference between a hate crime and a hate incident.

 

 

What is a Hate Crime?

A hate crime is a criminal act that is motivated by bias or prejudice against a person or group based on characteristics such as:

In essence, it's not just the crime itself (like assault, vandalism, or threats), but the motive behind it - specifically, targeting someone because of who they are or are perceived to be - that defines it as a hate crime. 

Some examples of hate related criminal offences include: 

Assaults

"A person is physically or verbally attacked as a result of a protected characteristic"

Hate Mail

(Malicious Communication)

"A physical or digital message that expresses hostility, prejudice or threats towards an individual or group based on the protected characteristics"

Vandalism 

(Criminal Damage)

"Defacing and/or damaging physical property with the intention of targeting a persons protected characteristic"

Harassment 

"Repeatedly following or contacting someone with the intent to intimidate them because a protected characteristics"
Hate crimes are criminal offences.
What is a Hate Incident?
A hate incident is any incident where the victim, or anyone else, thinks that someone’s prejudice towards them is as a result of their race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or because they are transgender.

Not all hate incidents will amount to criminal offences, but it is equally important that these are reported.

Some example of hate incidents: 

Verbal Abuse

"Name-calling and/or offensive jokes"

Offensive Social Media Posts

"Derogatory memes or comments about a protected characteristic without directly targeting someone"

Refusal of Service 

"A shop assistant refuses to serve a customer because of a protected characteristic"

Malicious complaints

"Over parking, smells, or noise"

Offensive Propaganda

"Displaying or circulating discriminatory literature or posters about a protected characteristic"

Mocking or Imitating Accents

"Imitating of mocking a person's speech of movements"

 

 Important to note: Something is a hate incident if the victim or anyone else thinks it was carried out because of hostility or prejudice based on one of these characteristics. 

This means that if the victim believe something is a hate incident, it should be recorded as such by the person it is being reported to. Hate incidents can escalate into hate crimes.
 

> I have been affected by a hate incident or hate crime. What should I do?

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