One hate crime is one too many

Friday 18-03-2016 - 15:40
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We've had a lot of fun this One World Week, but it'd be remiss of us not to reflect on the sad reality that too often our students and staff have been victims of hate crimes. Here we've outlined a few bit of key information for you understand and learn about hate crime reporting and why it matters.

What is a hate crime?

A hate crime is any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by hostility or prejudice because of a victim’s sex, race, religion, disability or sexual orientation.

A hate incident is any incident that may or may not be a criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by hostility or prejudice because of a victim’s sex, race, religion, disability or sexual orientation.

A hate crime or hate incident can take many forms which include physical violence and assaults as well as threat of attack and intimidation, verbal abuse, name calling, spitting, abusive gestures, bullying and harassment, unfounded malicious complaints damage to property including arson, dumping of rubbish and offensive or dangerous substances posted through letterboxes, offensive mail, email, leaflets or posters and graffiti, offensive calls or texts.

How to report an incident

There are several ways to report a hate crime or incident whether you have been a victim or a witness.

In an emergency call 999. If you can’t make voice calls you can contact the emergency services by texting 999 from your mobile. To use the text service you need to register first on emergencysms.org.uk

Contact our Campus Police Officers, PC Steve Williams and PC Jimmy Riley, on 0161 856 5127 or by email steve.williams@gmp.police.uk and jamesa.riley@gmp.police.uk. Alternatively you can contact your local police force on their non-emergency number or by calling 101. Otherwise you can go in to a local police station.

Fill in the online reporting form on www.report-it.org.uk. This method of reporting enables you to stay completely anonymous if you want to.

Local third party reporting centres can report hate crimes or incidents on your behalf. A list of local organisations can be found here.

Why should I report a hate crime?

  • It’s rarely a one off incident. Victims of hate crime are often likely to suffer regular abuse from the same people.
  • Hate crimes and incidents hurt. They can be confusing and frightening and can have a long term negative impact on your mental health and wellbeing.
  • If you don’t report it, the government and the police won’t know how bad the problem really is and won’t be able to improve the way they respond or take action.
  • So the people committing the hate crimes can be caught before they make other people suffer too. Sometimes less serious behavior can escalate with more serious consequences.
  • The only way to tackle hate crimes and hate incidents is to report it every time.

What happens next?

What happens next will depend on how you reported the hate crime or incident.

If you have reported to the police then you can expect the following

  • Your report will be treated with dignity, respect and understanding
  • Staff will handle the information you pass onto them confidentially
  • To be kept informed of developments in your case
  • To be told when the offender is arrested, charged, bailed and sentenced
  • To be signposted to a victim and witness support organisation
  • If you are unhappy with the service you have received then please contact your local policing team. If that doesn’t resolve the issue then please contact your local police headquarters.

If you have reported anonymously, either by phone or online, then your report is logged and contributes to the picture of hate crime in your area. You will not get a response and the incident may not be investigated.

Even if you have not reported to the police you can still access victim and witness support services.

Statistics that might surprise you:

There was a 23% rise in hate crimes reported to Greater Manchester Police between 2013/14 and 2014/15. 80% of these were race related.

Hate crimes against people with a disability increased from 67 to 161 between 2013/14 and 2014/15. That’s a 140% increase.

Greater Manchester Police recorded the second highest rate of hates crimes and hate incidents in the country behind London.

This is data for reported incidents. The actual number of hate crimes and hate incidents will be much higher because most people don't report them.

Remember, the Union and University have plenty of supportive, helpful and knowledgable people who you can trust if you have been the victim of a hate crime. Just speak to us.

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