Hate Crime Scrutiny Panels

We acknowledge that public trust is measured against our ability to work with the public in key areas, which is why we have established scrutiny panels throughout the region.
The panels, made up of independent members, will scrutinise all areas of the criminal justice system, including the role of the CPS, to recommend changes where necessary and ensure that communities are being properly served.
To find out more about our scrutiny panels and the possibility of becoming a member, please contact Derek Burnett, CPS Equality and Diversity Manager for the Eastern Area on 01245 455852.

What is the Panel for?

The panel establishes a dialogue with our communities to explain how we come to our decisions. It is also important to us to directly consult with our communities on the policies and guidance which we refer to when making a decision.
Overall the Panel identify areas for improvement and good practice within the prosecution process.

Our Panel aims to:

Inform communities about how prosecution decisions are made
Provide learning to CPS and Criminal Justice Agencies on how such cases could be handled differently if necessary
Increase the reporting levels of these crimes
Ultimately, contribute to improving performance in hate crime cases

What will happen at the meetings?

The Panel will meet four times a year to:
Review randomly selected cases
Consider issues surrounding CPS decisions
Provide feedback to the community
Provide feedback to CPS staff

Home » Hate Crime

Hate Crime

It is everyone's right to live without fear and harassment. At the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), we have specific policies tackling:

Race and religious hate crime

Racist and religious crime is particularly hurtful to victims as they are being targeted solely because of their personal identity, and debilitating their actual or perceived racial or ethnic origin or their actual or perceived belief or faith. These crimes can happen randomly or be part of a campaign of continued harassment and victimisation. We will not tolerate such crime and will taken action when such crimes are reported.

Homophobic and transphobic hate crime

In the past, incidents against lesbian, gay or bisexual people, or against trans people, have been rarely reported and even more rarely prosecuted. Research studies suggest that victims of, or witnesses to, such incidents have very little confidence in the criminal justice system. The CPS is committed to addressing this problem, and ensuring crimes against our LGBT communities are tackled properly.

Disability hate crime

Feeling unsafe or unwelcome whether from negative stereotyping, rejection or violence, hostility or harassment  has a profoundly negative impact on disabled people's sense of security and wellbeing. It also impacts significantly on their ability to participate both socially and economically in their communities. The CPS takes disability hate crime seriously and will take action to prosecute such crimes.

Crimes against older people

Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure and to live free from the fear of crime. We know that feeling and being unsafe have significant negative impacts on older people's health and sense of well-being. Our policy, Prosecuting Crimes Against Older People, makes clear to older people, their families, communities and the general public that the CPS understands the serious implications of this type of crime.