Hate Crime

Hate Crime can have a lasting effect on individuals and communities and is something we will not tolerate in society. Targeting someone specifically because of a hatred towards their race, religion, sexual orientation or disability is something we are continually looking at in order to increase our successful prosecution rate.

Hate Crime includes offences related to a persons

• Race
• Religion
• Sexual orientation
• Sexuality and gender identity
• Disability

Power of the court

If the courts decide that the accused person showed hostility or was motivated by hostility towards the victim of the crime because of their race, religion, sexuality, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability they can impose a greater sentence than otherwise would have been given.

For example a racially motivated wounding offence in the Crown Court could earn a sentence of 7 years as opposed to one without the racial element which would be a maximum of 5 years.

Working for you against hate crime

We have designated hate crime prosecutors who are specialists in these types of offences.

Our witness care officers can put you in touch with organisations who can support you.

The police can take action to see that you are protected if you are intimidated as a result of reporting a crime.

We work with local organisations who represent communities affected by hate crime to seek better ways of supporting victims - visit our Hate Crime Partnerships page to find out more.

We have published dedicated policies for prosecuting each area of hate crime, these can be viewed via our publications page.