Fairness
Hate crime is the term given to offences where the victim has been targeted specifically due to ‘who they are’.
Nationally, hate crime is monitored under five strands and is defined as:
‘Any criminal offence that is targeted at a person because of hostility or prejudice towards their race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity.’
Hate crime has a significant impact on victims, often leaving them distressed and causing them to make changes to their lifestyle to reduce the risk of such events happening again.
In many cases, victims are afraid to leave their homes for fear of being targeted.
There are also high levels of repeat victimisation for this type of crime.
Victims often endure many incidents without reporting to the police or to any other agency.
More information on how the partners are working together to tackle hate crime is available at the Herts Against Hate web page.
Hertfordshire’s Hate Crime Strategy has been developed by Hertfordshire’s County Community Safety Unit and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
This strategy outlines Hertfordshire’s plans for reducing the harm caused by Hate Crime to individuals, families and communities.
The strategy and delivery plan will take a whole system approach, from prevention to enforcement with a focus on victim support. The approach of
Prevention First is key when working in partnership.
The Hate Crime Strategy sets out four areas to address in order to properly combat hate crime.
Prevention
Challenging prejudice wherever it appears by educating the public to identify and reject hate and prejudice in all forms.
This includes target groups such as schools, the general public and the professional workforce.
Raise awareness of the impact of online harassment and Hate Crimes.
Promoting victim confidence in the system.
Resolution
Bringing offenders to justice using the appropriate legal tools.
Addressing the experience of the criminal justice system for both victims and offenders.
Increasing reporting of hate crime both through calls to the police and also through third-party reporting centres.
Support
Supporting the victim to cope and recover.
Putting them at the heart of the criminal justice system.
Reducing repeat victimisation and improving confidence.
Further provision of an enhanced victim service delivered by case managers, with an overall aim of improving victim experience, satisfaction and on-going wellbeing.
Learning
Understanding exactly what hate crime looks like in Hertfordshire.
Who is affected and where?
Identifying and recognising emerging threats.
Transparently evaluating the work we do to tackle hate crime and support victims.
Effective use of data on hate crime using an intelligence-led approach so that we can be placed on a path of continuous improvement.
The Commissioner's office and Constabulary are also partners in Herts Against Hate.
The Hate Crime Partnership Board is chaired by Dr Amie Birkhamshaw, Assistant Chief Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire.
Below are the minutes form the Hate Crime Partnership Board
Hate crime can be reported in a number of ways. Through Herts Police’s website or by calling 101. In an emergency, you should dial 999.
Victims who would like to report a hate crime but would prefer not to report direct to police can do so at the national hate crime reporting website as well as a number of third party reporting centres in Hertfordshire.
Support for victims of hate crime is provided through a number of agencies including the victim care centre Beacon. You are able to access Beacon’s services even if you have not reported a crime to the police.