Hate crimes and harassment

Hate-related incidents and hate crime can take the form of verbal, physical and written abuse and acts of harassment and intimidation. They are perpetrated against one person or a group of people because of the offender's perceived personal characteristics of that person. This includes age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, gender reassignment, transgender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or beliefs.

Hate crime is any incident, which may or may not constitute a criminal offence, which is perceived by the victim or any other person, as being motivated by prejudice or hate.

Hate crime can include:

• Threatening behaviour
• Assault
• Robbery
• Damage to property
• Inciting others to commit hate crimes
• Harassment.

Such incidents should normally be reported to the police on 999 if an emergency, or 101 if an issue does not require immediate attention. Please also report to us and keep any crime reference numbers or police information provided to you.

If you experience more than one hate incident by the same individual or group of individuals it could constitute harassment.

We treat allegations of hate crime and hate related incidents with the utmost seriousness as a high priority case. We will work alongside the police and other partner agencies to deal with and signpost victims for support. When reporting this to us we will assess your complaint and provide advice and a relevant management action plan to you. Where the perpetrator of this is a tenant, we will follow our enforcement process and take action against the offender’s tenancy where this is possible.

Useful contact details and sources of information