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Hate crime & hate related incidents

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Report a hate incident

Stop the Hate

‘Hate Crime’ is the generic term used to discuss both Hate Crimes and Hate Incidents.

Hate Crimes are any crimes perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice.
Hate Incidents feel like crimes and often escalate to crimes or tensions in a community.
Both are committed because of a person’s actual or perceived:

  • Race: including ethnicity, nationality or national origin, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
  • Religion or belief: including no faith.
  • Sexual Orientation: including Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual.
  • Gender Identity: including transgender, non-binary and gender fluid.
  • Disability: including learning, mental health, physical or sensory disability.

Hate Crime can take many forms, including:

  • Threat of or actual assault.
  • Verbal abuse.
  • Inciting others to commit Hate Crime.
  • Intimidating behaviour or harassment, including online.
  • Damage to property, including arson.
  • Offensive leaflets, posters or graffiti.

Why should you report Hate Crime?

Hate Crime in any form is inexcusable. By reporting Hate Crime, you can get help and support if you need it. If you tell someone what has happened - such as a friend, family member or agency - it gives you an opportunity to talk about what happened and decide what action to take. You may want someone to speak to the police on your behalf or you might decide to report using a different option. Anyone can report Hate Crime, regardless of whether they are the victim, witness, or are reporting on behalf of someone else.

There are several options you can use to report Hate Crime – from reporting anonymously to in-person or online. If you report Hate Crime, you may help the police understand the extent of Hate Crime in your local area and they can develop a response. This may prevent these incidents from happening to someone else. Reporting makes a difference – to you, your friends, and your community.

There are several ways to report Hate Crime. You can:

  • Speak to the police directly:
    • In person at a police station
    • By calling 999 for emergencies
    • By calling 101 for non-urgent enquiries.
    • Online
  • Report anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
  • Report online to True Vision at www.report-it.org.uk.
  • Report it at a Hate Incident Reporting Centre (HIRC) - to support people in reporting a Hate Incident or Crime, and to help the Police reduce hate related crime, Rochford District Council has become a Hate Incident Reporting Centre (HIRC). This means you are able to report a hate incident or hate crime at either Rochford District Council receptions or by telephone, by speaking to one of the Council’s trained Hate Crime Ambassadors. They will be support you in reporting your experience to the Police or will do so on your behalf.
  • Call Stop Hate UK on 0800 138 1625 (free 24-hour helpline) or 0808 801 0576 (for under 18s) or visit their website: www.stophateuk.org/. Stop Hate UK are a national Hate Crime charity that provide a free 24/7 Hate Crime reporting and information line to residents in Essex.

For information and support:

  • Contact Victim Support, the national charity that provides free and independent practical and emotional support to victims of crime or traumatic incidents. Victims can access their services regardless of when the crime happened or if the police are involved:
    • Call Essex Victim Support on 0808 178 1694 (open 8am-5pm, Mon-Fri).
    • Call the national, 24/7 Supportline on 0808 168 9111.
    • Visit their website at www.victimsupport.org.uk.   
  • For guidance on the Criminal Justice System visit: Help for victims – Victims Commissioner   
  • Find out about Restorative Justice:
  • Restorative Justice or Mediation are when those harmed by a crime or conflict have contact with the person responsible to try to find a way forward. This is voluntary and both sides need to agree for the contact to take place. This is not an alternative to a court-imposed sentence.
  • Victims of anti-LGBT+ hate crime can also contact the LGBT+ Hate Crime Helpline, which is open Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm, and can be reached on 020 7704 2040 or by emailing HateCrime@galop.org.uk.

Rochford District Council is a Hate Incident Reporting Centre (HIRC)

To support people in reporting a Hate Incident or Crime, and to help the Police reduce hate related  crime, Rochford District Council has become a Hate Incident Reporting Centre (HIRC).

This means you will be able to report a hate incident or hate crime at the Rochford District Council receptions and speak to one of the Council’s Hate Crime Ambassadors. They will support you in reporting your experience to the Police or will do so on your behalf.

Alternatively you can call Community Safety on 01702 318103 or email us using this form.

There are also other HIRCS throughout the district, you can find them using the link in Related Content.

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