Hate incidents and 'hate crimes' are terms used to describe acts of violence or hostility which are experienced by the victim or any other person as motivated because of who they are or who they are perceived to be.
Any crime motivated by prejudice against someone's,
- Race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality
- Religion and belief (or lack of religion or belief)
- Gender or gender identity (including transphobia)
- Sexual orientation (including homophobia and biphobia)
- Disability (including physical disabilities, sensory impairments, learning disabilities, mental health issues, and any other impairments),
can be prosecuted as a hate crime, the nuances of which are set out in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and section 66 of the Sentencing Act 2020.
A victim does not have to be a member of the group at which the hostility is targeted. For example, a person does not have to be a disabled person to be a victim of a disability hate incident. Neither does a person have to be gay to be a victim of a homophobic hate incident.
Hate incidents can be a one-off or part of an ongoing campaign of harassment or intimidation. Someone can be a victim of more than one type of hate crime.
A victim does not have to be a member of the group at which the hostility is targeted. For example, a person does not have to be a disabled person to be a victim of a disability hate incident. Neither does a person have to be gay to be a victim of a homophobic hate incident.
Hate incidents can be a one-off or part of an ongoing campaign of harassment or intimidation. Someone can be a victim of more than one type of hate crime.
Hate incidents are not only carried out by strangers. They could be carried out by a carer, a neighbour, a teacher, or someone considered a friend.
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