Hate Crime
A Hate Crime is any behaviour that someone thinks was caused by hostility, prejudice or hatred of:
- Disability- including physical impairments, Mental Health problems, learning disabilities, hearing and visual impairment
- Gender identity- includes people who are transgender, transsexual or transvestite
- Race- skin colour, nationality, ethnicity or heritage
- Religion- faith or belief including people without a religious belief
- Sexual Orientation- people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or heterosexual
There are lots of different types of Hate Crimes. These could include:
- Physical attacks- such as physical assault, damage to property, offensive graffiti, neighbour disputes and arson
- Threat of attack– including offensive letters, abusive or obscene telephone calls or text messages, groups hanging around to intimidate and unfounded, malicious complaints
- Verbal abuse or insults – offensive leaflets and posters, abusive gestures, offensive comments and/or name calling, dumping of rubbish outside homes or through letterboxes and bullying at school or in the workplace.
Anyone can be a victim of hate crime
A victim is any person who lives, works or visits the borough of Rochdale and is subjected to a hate motivated incident or crime. A victim is also someone who witnesses another person being subjected to a hate motivated incident or crime.
A perpetrator or offender is any person who commits acts of hatred against other people because of their race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, faith or religion, age, gender, sexuality or disability.
Mate Crime
Mate Crime involves someone befriending a person in order to abuse them. The 'Friend or Fake' booklet is an easy-read booklet about Hate Crime and Mate Crime.
Friend or Fake Booklet
Why should you report hate crimes?
If you report what is happening, the Police, Rochdale Community Safety Partnership and other organisations like charities and housing providers can take action against the perpetrator and support victims and witnesses. When you report Hate Crimes, you are making a bigger difference than you may think. It not only helps you get support but it also helps make your local area safer.
How do I report a hate crime?
Even if you are unsure you have been a victim of a Hate Crime it is important to speak to someone. You can report a Hate Crime to any of these agencies:
- Emergency – In an emergency you should phone 999
- Greater Manchester Police– You can phone Greater Manchester Police on 101 or you can go to any police station in the borough
If you don’t want to call the Police you can report online on the True Vision Website where you can report online or download a reporting form which can be sent to your local police station
What happens once you report a hate crime?
Your report will be forwarded to Rochdale Police Station; there it will be recorded and passed on to a Police Officer in your local area to deal with. The Police Officer will contact you and ask for further details and discuss the options available. If you don’t want any action taken and simply want the matter recorded, that’s no problem. If you want the matter investigated the Police Officer will explain the options that are available dependent on your specific complaint.