Hate crime

Westward does not tolerate hate crime

What is hate crime?

Hate incidents and hate crime are acts of verbal, written or physical abuse, or acts of harassment or intimidation against a person or a group of people because of their perceived personal characteristics.

A hate crime is any incident which is perceived by the victim as having been motivated by prejudice or hate. This would include prejudice against a person’s or a group of people’s age, race, gender, gender reassignment status, sexual orientation, disability or religion, belief or lack of belief

Examples of hate crime can include:

• Racial abuse – where abuse is targeted at someone’s race, culture, country of origin or immigration status
• Sexist abuse – where abuse is targeted at someone’s gender
• Homophobic abuse – where abuse is targeted at someone’s sexual orientation
• Transphobic abuse – where abuse is targeted at transgender or transsexual people
• Religious abuse – where abuse is targeted at someone’s religion
• Ageist abuse – where abuse is targeted at someone’s age.

 

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Why report hate crime incidents?

If you have experienced or witnessed an incident of hate crime, you should report this to the Police, as it is a criminal offence. By reporting such incidents, you will enable agencies to monitor where these incidents are taking place and help them to take action.

Westward will work with the police and other agencies to do something about it, but if you decide not to report, we will not know whether there is a problem.

 

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How can you report a hate crime incident?

To Westward:

You can report a Hate crime by completing our online form at the bottom of this page.

To the Police in person:

You can report the incident directly to the police by visiting your local police station or by phone. When you report the incident you should ask for the reference number, this will help you in any further dealings with the police in future. If you are not comfortable reporting the incident you can ask someone else to phone the police on your behalf such as a friend or relative. You can also contact a Citizens Advice Bureau to help you phone the police.

If English is not your first language or you are not comfortable speaking in English, you can request that the police provide an interpreter to speak to you in your native language.

Find your local police station.

www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/reporthc 

To the Police via True Vision

You can report an incident to the Police online via the True Vision website. Report a hate crime - True Vision (report-it.org.uk)

Once you have filled in the form online, it is sent directly to your local police force. You can also use the self–reporting form which you must then send to your local police.

It is vital to give as many details as possible; as this helps the police deal with your case more efficiently. If you want the police to investigate the incident, you will need to provide your contact details and the best time to contact you.

If you need help reporting the incident you can seek additional advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau.

You can find help and support from the National Stop Hate UK website and 24 hour help line 0800 138 1625

 

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How Westward can help

If you've been affected by hate crime, then let us help you. We will offer you support and help you decide what to do next.

Within 24 hours of us receiving a report regarding a hate crime, you will be contacted by an officer who will arrange a home visit, or you can request to meet at a location of your choice.

At the visit we will:

• Treat you with respect, listen to what you have to say and gather as much supporting information from you as we can.
• Make you aware of all the available options which include:
• Referral to support agencies including Victim Support and police
• Contacting witnesses and gathering further evidence
• Take action against the perpetrator

Upon agreeing a course of action with you, we will:

• Keep you updated
• Review the case
• Only make contact with witnesses, other residents in the area and or the alleged perpetrator with your consent
• With your consent, we will liaise with other organisations that are already involved or could help.

Easy read 'What is hate crime?' leaflet 

Stop Hate UK Information film with British Sign Language

 

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Reporting Anti-Social Behaviour

Note: Questions marked by * are mandatory

*This is a mandatory field. Your name

Case number (if known)

*This is a mandatory field. Your address

*This is a mandatory field. Postcode

Phone number

Mobile number

*This is a mandatory field. Email address

*This is a mandatory field. What type of ASB does your report relate to? (You can find descriptions in our ASB toolkit)

Assault
Drug use and dealing
Group dissorder
Gun or knife crime
Noise
Pets
Sexual offences
Threat (of abuse or violence)
Verbal abuse, intimidation or harassment

*This is a mandatory field. Do you consider it to be hate crime (you can read more about this on our website)?

Yes
No

If you think it is a hate crime, what type of hate crime do you consider it to be?

Why do you perceive this to be motivated by hatred?

*This is a mandatory field. Please describe the problem or incident you are experiencing in your own words. Please give as much detail as you can:

*This is a mandatory field. Where did the incident or behaviour take place?

*This is a mandatory field. Date of the most recent incident

Time of the most recent incident (please be clear about am or pm)

*This is a mandatory field. Who was involved?

*This is a mandatory field. Were you or anyone else injured?

*This is a mandatory field. How did it make you feel?

How many offenders were there?

Do you know them?

*This is a mandatory field. Were there any witnesses and if so, do you know who they were?

*This is a mandatory field. Was the incident recorded on CCTV?

*This is a mandatory field. Did any loss or damage to property result from this incident?

*This is a mandatory field. How often has the problem occurred?

Have you completed ASB diary sheets?

Yes
No

Please use this to upload any photos you wish to submit to us.

Have you reported this to Westward before and if so could you please tell us when?

*This is a mandatory field. Did you inform the police (if so please tell us the log number here)?

If not, are you willing to give your details to the Police?

Yes
No

If you have reported this to any other agencies, when did you report it and who to?

*This is a mandatory field. What would you like to happen or what outcome would you like to see?

How would you like us to get in touch?

Email
Landline
Mobile
Text Message

*This is a mandatory field. Please tell us your ethnic group, for reporting purposes only

Please Select An Option WhiteWhite IrishWhite: Gypsy/Irish TravellerWhite OtherMixed: White and Black CaribbeanMixed: White and Black AfricanMixed: White AsianMixed: OtherAsian or Asian British: IndianAsian or Asian British: PakistaniAsian or Asian British: BangladeshiAsian or Asian British: ChineseAsian or Asian British: OtherBlack CaribbeanBlack AfricanBlack OtherArabOtherPrefers not to say

*This is a mandatory field. Please tell us you age group

Please Select An Option 16-2021-3031-4041-5051-6061-6465 & overRather not say

*This is a mandatory field. Please tell us your gender

Please Select An Option MaleFemaleNon-binaryPrefer not to sayTransgender Prefer to self-describe

This field protects against spam. Please answer the question below.

* Spam Guard: Is water wet or dry?