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Home » Hate Crime

Hate Crime

Hate crime includes offences related to a persons

  • Race
  • Religion
  • Sexual orientation
  • Sexuality and gender identity
  • Disability
  • Domestic violence
  • Violence against women
  • Crimes against the older person

They all have one thing in common - they are motivated by hate or prejudice and can often make the crime even more distressing.

Did you know that ...

  • 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 aggravated 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.
  • We have designated prosecutors for each type of hate crime who are specialists in that type of crime
  • 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 working with the community page for further details.
  • We have published our policies for each type of hate crime. They can be viewed via our publications page

Homophobic and Transphobic Crimes

We are aware that homophobic and transphobic crimes often go unreported and we have developed an information sheet for people who experience these crimes, explaining our commitment to seeking justice on their behalf and what support is available.

To find out more, take a look at our Messages to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Communities information sheet

Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel

As part of our commitment to be open and transparent with our communities and work with them to understand and meet their needs we have set up  panels of independent community members who look at real cases we have recently prosecuted to advise us on how we can improve the way we do things.

One of the panels, which was formed in March 2008,  looks at race and religiously aggravated crime, homophobic and transphobic crime and crimes against disabled people and older people.

The other panel, set up in March 2009, looks at crimes of violence against women. This includes offences or domestic abuse, rape and other sexual offences.

Panel members are people who have some experience, either directly or indirectly, of supporting people affected by these types of crime and have links with the communities affected by hate crime.

If you feel you can provide these and would be interested in joining the panel, please contact our Droitwich Office on 01905 825000 or e-mail us at West Mercia.comments@cps.gsi.gov.uk