Hate crime / Racially Religiously Aggravated

Question 1

State the difference between a hate crime & a hate incident

Answer 1

Hate Incident:

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

Hate Crime:

Any hate incident, which constitutes a criminal offence, which is perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by prejudice or hate.

Anyone can be a victim of hate crime and a hate incident

Question 2

Explain why particular members of society might be subject to hate/prejudice.

Answer 2

Hate crimes & incidents are taken to mean any crime or incident where the perpetrator’s hostility toward or prejudice against an
identifiable group of people is a factor in determining who is victimised

Identifiable groups:

• Sexual Orientation or perceived sexual orientation
• Transgender or perceived Transgender
• Ethnicity or perceived Ethnicity
• Religion or perceived Religion
• Disability or perceived Disability

Question 3

Describe the impact Hate Crime/Hate Incidents might have on victims

Answer 3

• Isolation
• Feeling of difference
• Fear
• Bewilderment
• Mistrust
• Shock

Question 4

Outline the initial police response to Hate Crime/Hate Incidents

Answer 4

All incidents of hate must be documented as these often lead towards hate crimes, & evidence of previous activity by an alleged offender is excellent evidence to put before a court.

Victime must be offered support.

Question 5

Define Section 28 Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (Racially & Religiously Aggravated Offences)

Answer 5

An offence is racially or religiously aggravated if, at the time of committing, or immediately before or after doing so, the offender demonstrates towards the victim hostilitybased on the victim’s membership or presumed membership of a racial or religious group or the offence is motivated (wholly or partly) by hostility towards members of a racial or religious group based on their membership
of that group

Question 6

State some racially / religiously motivated offences

Answer 6

• Assaults
• Criminal Damage
• Public order
• Stalking & Harassment

Question 7

Define Racial & Religious Hatred S18 Public Order Act 1986

Answer 7

A person who:
Uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or displays any written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting is guilty of an offence if he intends thereby to stir up racial hatred or having regard to all the circumstances racial hatred is likely to be stirred up

Question 8

Define Racial & Religious Hatred S19 Public Order Act 1986

Answer 8

A person who:
Publishes or distributes any written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting is guilty of an offence if he intends thereby to stir up racial hatred or having regard to all the circumstances racial hatred is likely to be stirred up