A hate crime incident is any incident that is perceived to be racist, homophobic or disablist by the victim or any other person. Hate crimes are not only against the law, they also create tension, divide people and communities and destroy people's lives through no fault of their own. Everyone has a right to go about his or her life without fear or intimidation.
The most common types of crime include:
- Abuse - where verbal abuse is given - e.g. name-calling
- Assault - where someone is physically attacked
- Damage - when property is damaged - e.g. window broken, car scratched
- Harassment - continual nuisance, however minor.
If you feel that you have been abused or discriminated against because of your race, sexual orientation or disability, the important thing is to remember as many details of the incident and the people concerned as possible, and report it.
Reporting Incidents
If you are the victim of a hate crime attack, you can make a difference by reporting all incidents.
You may be concerned about reporting incidents to anyone because of fear of similar incidents or of losing your job.
It is important to remember you do not have to press charges against offenders. Control over what will happen lies with you.
If you report the incident to any of the agencies below, your concerns will be dealt with in a way that will ensure your confidentiality.
To report an incident
You can contact any of the following agencies to report a hate crime incident.
Alternatively you can collect a Hate crime Self-reporting pack from the main council offices at Lodge Road or Contracts House, either of our outreach centres at Brixworth or Long Buckby, the Abbey Centre or the local library.
You can also download a copy of the reporting form from the link below and send it freepost to:
Northamptonshire Victim Support
FREEPOST NH 0154
Northampton
NN1 1BR
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