Reporting hate crimes and hate related incidents
What is a hate crime or hate-related incident?
Crimes such as assault and causing damage, harassment, anti-social behaviour, bullying and other incidents can all fall into this category if they are motivated by, or aggraveted by, hatred or hostility based on age, disability, gender (including transgender), race or ethnicity; religion or faith or sexual orientation.
For the purposes of initial reports, a crime or other incident is treated as being motivated or aggravated by hate or hostility if it is perceived to be by the victim or any other person.
How do I report hate crimes or other hate-related incidents?
If you, or anyone else, is in immediate danger, or if a crime is actually being committed and the perpetrator is still present, you should call the police using the 999 system. Tell the officers who you speak to that you believe it is a hate crime or incident and they will take the necessary details.
If it is not so urgent, you can report hate crimes and other hate-related incidents to the police. You can speak to any patrolling officer, call at any police station or telephone the Metropolitan Police Service single non-emergency number - 101. You can also report hate crimes and incidents via the Metropolitan Police Service website.
If you do not wish to report the crime or other incident to the police, you can use a third party reporting system as described below.
What is a third party reporting system?
It is recognised that some people do not feel confident to report hate crimes and other incidents to the police for a variety of reasons. Other organisations have therefore developed processes by which they can act as intermediaries ("third parties") to take details of the crime or incident and provide advice, guidance and support to the victim. If you do not wish them to do so, they will not pass your details on to the police.
STOP HATE UK:
The principal third party reporting system available to the victims of hate crime in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is that provided by Stop Hate UK. They provide a 24 hour Stop Hate Line on 0800 138 1625. You can also report hate crimes and other incidents via the STOP HATE UK website.
Galop
Galop is London’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans safety charity. It provides advice, advocacy, support and reporting of hate crime, domestic abuse, sexual violence and problems with the police. - www.galop.org.uk - 020 7704 2040
Contact the Domestic Abuse and Hate Crime coordinator
The Domestic Abuse and Hate Crime coordinator within the Community Safety Partnership can also provide advice, guidance and support if you are the victim of a hate crime or other hate-related incident.