Hate crime

Hate crime covers a range of behaviours including the following:

• bullying including cyber-bullying
• discrimination
• exclusion
• inciting hatred
• physical assault
• verbal abuse

Official definition

The police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) define hate crime as any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim, or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice. Based on a person's:

• disability or perceived disability
• race or perceived race
• religion or perceived religion
• sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation
• transgender identity or perceived transgender identity

These are known as protected characteristics. It does not matter if the person targeted has the characteristic that the prejudice is directed toward. Only that they’re perceived to have that characteristic or belong to that community.

A hate crime does not have to amount to a criminal offence to be considered a hate crime. Non-criminal hate crime incidents can still be reported to the police to be recorded. Evidence of a hate crime is not required. It’s enough that one person, such as the victim or a witness, perceives the incident to be a hate crime.