Hate Crime

A Hate Crime Incident is when you, your family or property is subjected to violence or damage because of:

• Your nationality, racial origins, colour of your skin, known as Racist Hate Crime,
• Your sexual orientation, which is known as Homophobic Hate Crime,
• Your religion or belief, known as Religious Hate Crime,
• Your disability, known as Disabled Hate Crime.

A Hate Crime is a violation of your personal and civil rights, Hate crimes are not only crimes against the targeted victim, but also against a particular group as a whole.  Hate crimes are attacks on communities.  It is important that these crimes be reported.  Only if a hate crime is reported can the agencies act to deal with it.  No one has the right to harass, threaten or assault you because of who you are, or where you come from.

Who does ‘Hate Crime’ Effect?

Hate Crime does not only harm the victim or damage their property, it can affect the whole family, friends and the wider community.  It can cause serious harm as many victims do not report incidents but endure harassment for a long time - sometimes for years.

You do not have to be a member of a minority group to be a victim of Hate crime, e.g. the friends of a visible minority ethnic person, lesbian or refugee may be victimised because of their association.

Types of Hate Crime:

Racial Harassment
Racial Harassment is any behaviour that interferes with the peace, comfort or safety of people in their home and/or neighbourhood, which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person.

Homophobic, Biphobic and Transphobic Harassment
Homophobic, biphobic and transphobic harassment is any behaviour that interferes with the peace, comfort or safety of people in their home and/or neighbourhood, which is perceived to be homophobic, biphobic or transphobic by the victim or any other person.

Religious Intolerance and Harassment
Religious harassment is any behaviour that interferes with the peace, comfort or safety of people in their home and/or neighbourhood, which is perceived to be religiously motivated by the victim or any other person.

Disabled Harassment
Disabled harassment is any behaviour that interferes with the peace, comfort or safety of people in their home and/or neighbourhood, which is perceived to be based on their disability by the victim or any other person. 

Harassment of other Minority Communities
These communities include Asylum Seekers, Refugees, Gypsies and Travellers and Irish people. The definition is the same as the above definitions.