Hate crimes are targeted at a person because of hostility or prejudice towards a person’s:
- Disability
- Race or Ethnicity
- Religion or Belief
- Sexual Orientation
- Transgender identity
Hate crime can be committed against a person or property. A victim does not have to be a member of the group at which the incident is targeted. Anyone can be a victim.
Incidents can feel like crimes to those who suffer them and often escalate into crimes or community tension. That’s why the police are particularly concerned about incidents and encourage people to report them.
Police can only prosecute when the law is broken but will work with partners to try and prevent the situation from becoming more serious.
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) works closely with anti-racism charity Show Racism the Red Card.
The charity provides educational workshops, training sessions, multi-media packages and other resources to tackle racism.
Find out more about Show Racism the Red Card.
This video – created by Eugene Evans for Cleveland Police – tells you what hate crime is, how to report it and how to get support.
Why Report Hate Crime?
Hate crimes and incidents are hurtful, confusing and frightening. By reporting them, you may be able to prevent them from happening to someone else.
You will also help the police to understand the amount of hate crime in your area so they can respond to it.
Reporting makes a difference – to you, your friends, and your life.
How to Report Hate Crime
There are several ways to report hate crime. You can report incidents if you have been a victim, a witness, or on behalf of someone else:
Contact the Police
You can speak to the police in confidence. You do not have to give your personal details, but remember the police may be severely limited in their investigations and ability to prosecute the offender(s) if they cannot contact you.
Use a Third Party Reporting Centre
If you don’t want to speak directly to the police, you can report crime at a Third Party Reporting Centre.
Third Party Reporting Centres can provide support and forward details to the police.
Reports do not have to include your contact details if you don’t want police to investigate. Reports can alert police to areas where hate crime is a particular problem.
Cleveland Police has a list of all Third Party Reporting Centres in the force area below.