Hate Crimes and Hate Related Incidents
What is a Hate Crime?
A Hate Crime is defined as any incident which is perceived by the victim or any other person, as being motivated by prejudice with regards of race, faith/religion, homophobia and disability. A Hate Crime incident may be physical, verbal or written and can include:
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Threatening a person
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Touching or assaulting a person
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Offensive language
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Isolation from social events or activities
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Offensive graffiti
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Hate mail and offensive symbols
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Harassment, bullying and victimisation
The Home Office definition of a Hate Crime
"Any incident, which constitutes a criminal offence, which is perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by prejudice or hate."
The most common forms of hate crime are racism, disability and homophobia.
Racism: When a person commits a crime against someone because of the colour of their skin, their ethnic background, their accent or use of a foreign language, that is racism - a hate crime.
Homophobia: When someone is victimised because of their sexuality, because they are (or the attacker perceives them to be) gay, lesbian, bisexual or transsexual - that is a hate crime.
Disability: When a person is victimised because of their disability or perceived disability, whether mental or physical – this is a hate crime.
Other kinds of hate crime: Violence or harassment against people because of their religion, refugee or asylum seeker status is also a hate crime.
The effects it can have
Hate Crime can have a lasting effect on individuals and communities and is something Torfaen County Borough Council will not tolerate. Targeting someone specifically because of a hatred towards their race, religion, sexual orientation or disability is something we are continually monitoring.
Hate Crimes may have extreme consequences.
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Effects on people – psychological - repercussions on the victim's identity and self-esteem; reinforced if the incident is violent.
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Effects on the targeted Community – Fear within the community to which the victim identifies within, creating feelings of vulnerability over other members
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Effects on other vulnerable groups – It may also have an affect on other minority groups especially when the referred hate crime is based on an ideology which is prejudicial towards several minority communities.
Working for you against hate crime
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The Crown Prosecution Service has designated hate crime prosecutors who are specialists in these types of offences.
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Witness care officers can put you in touch with organisations that can support you.
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Gwent Police can take action to ensure you are protected if you are intimidated as a result of reporting a crime.
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Torfaen County Borough Council work with local organisations that represent communities affected by hate crime to seek better ways of supporting victims.