Hate Crime Awareness PC Chris Nicholson Aim To

Hate Crime Awareness. PC Chris Nicholson.

Aim � To raise awareness of how to identify and report HATE crimes and HATE related incidents. � To have an insight into what action the Police will take upon these matters being reported to us.

Definition � Within your group define what you believe HATE crime to be.

Definition � “…any incident or criminal offence which may be real or perceived by the victim or anyone else (including the investigating officer) to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards a person because of their Race, Religion, Sexual Orientation, Transgender or Disability” � This also includes the exploitation of the victim where their disability is factor (“Mate Crime”)

Definition � Identifying factors include (but are not limited to) ◦ ◦ ◦ Disability Race, Religion or belief, Sexual orientation, Transgender.

Definition � When a criminal offence of a HATE nature is reported to South Yorkshire Police, either by the victim or another person, it will be recorded and investigated as a hate crime.

Non-Crime Hate Incident � Sometimes, a victim or witness may perceive that an action against them was motivated by the hostility and prejudice of the perpetrator, based one or more of the identifying factors referred to above, though no criminal offence has been committed. When an incident of this nature is reported to South Yorkshire Police, it will be recorded as a 'non-crime hate incident'. � South Yorkshire Police personnel (officers or staff) will need to decide whether a hate crime or non-crime hate incident has occurred and respond appropriately.

Did I mention “Mate Crime” � � � ‘Mate Crime’ is the exploitation of vulnerable people by others who seize an opportunity to prey on an individual’s weakness. In other words, befriending the vulnerable person in order to take from them what ever they can, knowing that the vulnerable person is unlikely to report them because they are their ‘Mate’. This can include borrowing money, consuming their food and drink, taking expensive electrical goods, bank cards etc. What ever they can exploit. To many vulnerable people who don’t really have ‘friends’, having a new ‘mate’ who is kind and gives them lots of attention is the best thing in the world. Unfortunately they cannot see past the fake persona. This could even lead to them becoming involved in low level crime.

� � “It’s a sad fact than even in 2016 we still have a significant number of hate crimes and hate incidents reported to us. When people are targeted because of who they are, and suffer abuse or a crime, this is a hate crime. It is unacceptable and has to stop. “The impact of hate crime on victims is significant, as hate crime is very personal and engenders more fear in the victim. We work hard with partners to prevent and reduce hate crime, but we know it’s still under-reported. “We need victims – and those who witness others being subjected to hate crime and hate incidents – to let us know so we can continue to prevent hate, and support victims. "Of particular note disability hate crime where a person with any form of disability, whether learning, mental or physical, are targeted because of this. These crimes are believed to be significantly under-reported to the police due to the vulnerabilities of those victims, which means we need to make even more of an effort to identify these incidents, support and protect the victims and take positive action against offenders. " � Hate Crime lead Temporary Superintendent Sarah Poolman

Current Government stance The UK Government’s plan for tackling hate crime July 2016 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Preventing hate crime Dealing with hate crime in our communities Getting more people to report hate crime Improving support for the victims of hate crime Understanding hate crime more

Under reporting of hate crime � The majority of hate crime that is reported is of a Racial nature. � Other identified groups such as Disability, Sexual Orientation and Transgender are more widely unreported. � We know that hate crime in general is massively under reported. Why is this?

WHY? � Hate ◦ ◦ ◦ Crime is often not reported because of, A lack of understanding as to what Hate Crime is. Not knowing how to report it. Not having the confidence to contact an authoritative organisation. Thinking that nothing will get done about it anyway. Lack of trust in the police. Fear of reprisals or further abuse if the offenders are dealt with.

How can you report Hate Crime? � If an incident is happening there and then and some one is at risk of harm … call 999. � If there is no immediate danger to any one … call 101. � You can report on line … southyorks. police. uk/hatecrime � Third party Community reporting Centres.

WHO can report hate Crime? ◦ The victim can report and it is usually best if they do as they know the circumstances of what has happened. ◦ Our third party reporting centres can report on behalf of their service users. ◦ ANYBODY who is a witness to a Hate Crime, can report it even if they don’t know the details of who was involved.

Operation Solar � PC Chris Nicholson �operation. solar@southyorks. pnn. police. uk Report hate crime anonymously. If you don’t tell us about it … we won’t know it’s happening!

Any Questions?