Hate crime reporting
If you think you or someone you know has experienced a hate crime, there are a variety of support options available for students.
Here are some of the ways you can report and get support. Please get in touch if you seek further support.
What is a hate crime?
A Hate Crime is any criminal offence where the victim has been targeted because of their perceived protected characteristics. Protected characteristics include race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and belief. The victim does not have to define into any of these groups, but the perception that they do must exist for it to be a considered a hate crime.
A Hate Incident does not amount to a criminal offence but still causes alarm, distress or harassment to the victim who has been targeted because of their protected characteristics. Like a hate crime, the victim may not actually define themselves as having this characteristic, but it is the perception that they do that makes it a hate incident.
Examples of hate crimes
Both hate crimes and hate incidents can take many forms. It isn’t always physical violence, but it does include physical assault and damage to property. It could be someone using offensive language or making insulting gestures. It could also be someone posting rude or abusive messages online.
Examples of hate crime include:-
- Verbal abuse or insults, offensive leaflets and posters, abusive gestures, dumping of rubbish outside homes or through letterboxes, and bullying in the school or workplace
- Threat of attack - including offensive letters, abusive obscene telephone calls, and offensive comments on social networking sites
- Physical attack - such as physical assault, damage to property, offensive graffiti, neighbour disputes, and arson.
- So called 'mate crime' could also come under Hate Crime. 'Mate crime' is when somebody befriends a vulnerable person to take advantage of that vulnerability.
Reporting a hate crime
Reach out to Stop Hate UK to report it, or get in contact with (Merseyside) Police – 999 for an emergency, 101 for non-emergencies. Please note that the police will be involved if you have not reported the hate crime anonymously. In Merseyside, we have a specialist hate crime team called the Sigma team, they are specially trained officers in the investigation of hate crime and hate incidence.
You can also report the hate crime to LJMU via Report and Support. LJMU will then be able to provide you with support.
Can I report anonymously?
Yes, you can report a hate crime anonymously. It’s important to know that if you witness a hate crime of hate incident, you may not feel able, or safe enough to step in at the time. You can report the incident afterwards; this would be through Stop Hate UK.
Do I have to tell the university and my personal tutor?
You do not have to tell the university or your personal tutor if you do not feel comfortable. However, if the perpetrator is an LJMU Student you may wish to submit a complaint about them via Report and Support. If you would like further information on this, please get in touch and we will guide you further on this issue. If you have any assessments coming up, you may be able to have an extension or put in an Extenuating Circumstances form due to the nature of the issue.
Additional support
In Liverpool there are two specialist charities that support people who need additional support around the impacts of hate crime. These are:
