Information on hate crime and organisations that offer support and advice to victims and witnesses.

What is a Hate Crime?

In England and Wales, hate crime laws recognise five protected characteristics. These are:

1. race
2. religion
3. sexual orientation
4. transgender identity
5. disability

Hate crimes can include a range of behaviours such as verbal abuse, intimidation, threats, harassment, assault, and damage to property. These actions become hate crimes when they are motivated by hostility or prejudice towards someone based on their actual or perceived protected characteristic.

It’s important to note that the victim does not necessarily have to possess the protected characteristic themselves; the crime can be based on the perpetrator’s perception.

For further information regarding hate crime please view the CPS website.

The Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act 2010 is the law that protects you from discrimination. It also gives you the right to challenge discrimination. You are protected by the Equality Act if you have certain protected characteristics. For more information please visit Equality Act 2010 Guidance - GOV.UK.

You are protected under the Equality Act 2010 from these types of discrimination:

  • age
  • disability
  • gender reassignment
  • marriage and civil partnership
  • pregnancy and maternity
  • race
  • religion or belief
  • sex
  • sexual orientation
How to Report a Hate Crime

Does the hate crime or incident you are reporting put, you, your family or your property in immediate danger?

If yes…

Call 999 and ask for the police

If no…

Call West Midlands Police on 101

Alternatively you can reporting the incident online via True Vision.

True Vision

You can report a hate crime online using true vision. The site can also give you information about hate crime or incidents and how to report it, as well as information about the help and support available to victims of hate crime.

Report it

What are the effects of hate crime?

Hate crime can feel very personal to victims and have a long-lasting impact as they have been targeted because of who they are or who or what the perpetrator thinks they are. Some of the effects of this are:

  • Victims can be left terrified and traumatised
  • Victims may be overcome by panic and anxiety
  • Can negatively impact on families and entire communities
  • Can lead to tensions and conflict 
Useful Videos

Third Party Reporting Centres

If you do not wish to contact the police in the first instance, you can contact the following organisations that offer a range of support and advice and will treat your incident in strict confidence (unless child protection issues are raised).

Staff at these centres have been trained to deal with complaints and to provide appropriate support:

Support

Remedi

Remedi exist to enable those accessing our services to be the people they can and want to be, through the creative and proactive use of restorative approaches.

Find out more

Safer Travel Partnership

As well as our usual daily high visibility patrols and day to day policing responsibilities, the team focus on intelligence led operations, with the aim of preventing and reducing crime on the bus/train/tram network.

Find out more

Zebra Access

If you are deaf or hard of hearing and experience a hate crime or hate incident, Zebra Access can support you to report it.

Find out more

Community and Specialist Helplines

Useful Info

Visit West Midlands Police for more information.

Easy read victims guide to hate crime support in the UK

For Professionals

Useful links and resources:

Stop Hate UK
Community Security Trust (CST)
Remedi
Hate crime - Galop the LGBT+ anti-abuse charity - Galop

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