Hate Crime
This page provides an introduction to hate crime reduction information. The Renewal.net definition gives a useful definition of hate crime:
"A hate crime is any crime committed against someone which is motivated by prejudice against their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability".
The general low levels of reporting do not necessarily indicate low levels of incidents. The obvious reluctance of victims of these crimes to report the crimes, often for fear of further victimization or lack of understanding of their rights, are important to race hate crime incident analysis.
Hate crime is under-reported and the risk of repeat victimisation is high. Similar to domestic violence, when developing projects and setting targets for domestic violence reduction CDRP's should prepare for a 'paper' increase in hate crimes.
The Lawrence Inquiry - 10 Years on
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Traditional policing relied on stereotypes which, research demonstrates, became 'operational norms'
Dr Richard Stone, in his introduction to the recently publish Runnymede Trust paper The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry 10 years on: A criticial review of the literature, states:
"The publication on 24 February 1999 of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report was hailed as a defining moment in police relations with Black and minority ethnic groups. It highlighted the ways in which the criminal justice system had repeatedly let down the Lawrence family through ‘collective failure’ of the murder investigation and ‘institutional racism’.
The report’s recommendations seek improved openness and accountability across the criminal justice system and focused the police and other law enforcement practitioners on tackling institutional racism."
This paper contains 5 recommendations :
- Effective practice on recording racist incidents should be shared across the criminal justice system.
- Police forces must improve the monitoring of racially motivated crime.
- Public scrutiny should continue beyond the publication of an Inquiry report.
- Police forces must address continued problems in the progression and retention of Black officers and staff.
- Government should review the effectiveness of stop and search procedures as a crime reduction strategy.
Hate Crime Links Further Reading |
Hate Crime - Practice and Research
Survey and linked research and good practice for hate crime reduction from Renewal.net
Hate Crime Reduction Guidance: UK Police
A practical guide for police and linked agencies developed by the Association of Chief Police Officers
Galop - Challenging Homophobic and Transphobic Hate Crime
Information and services for challenging homophobic and transphobic hate crime in London.
Race hate crime is, like other hate crime, something that will have significant personal impact upon the target and their community. The target of verbal or physical abuse is often therefore not the only victim. In developing any intervention, a CDRP needs to be aware of the impact on a potential 'targeted community'. That targeted community can be extensive. Hate Crime (Race) Links
Further Reading |
Police and Racism: What has been achieved 10 years after the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report? A Home Office 'toolkit' giving the background to race crime offending, an analysis of the issues and local solutions. Race and Crime - Practice and Research Survey and linked research and good practice for race crime reduction from Renewal.net Welcome to the Commission for Racial Equality Website of the Commission is detailed explanations of the nature of racial discrimination and the work of the Commission Action being taken to tackle racial harassment A Joseph Rowntree Foundation review of what 250 agencies are doing to tackle racial harassment. This publication from the UK Equality and Human Rights Commission considers what progress the police service has made in terms of race equality in the 10 years since the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry. |
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