Hate crime
Hate crime is defined as ‘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 involve: ·
- Verbal abuse, threats insults, nuisance telephone calls, name-calling and intimidation
- Physical assaults and attacks on the person
- Attacks against the person’s property, for example offensive graffiti, breaking windows, and damaging cars
- Setting fires
Publishing and distributing leaflets and newspapers that are likely to incite hate crime is also a criminal offence - Being singled out and being treated differently by other residents because you are not the same as them
Disability hate crime:
- A disability hate crime is a criminal offence
- Disability hate crimes are acts that target a victim because of the offender’s hostility to a disabled person or disabled people in general
- These are often different from other hate offences in that these might be perpetrated by friends, family members or carer; this can mean that disability hate crimes are less likely to be reported
- Definition of disability hate crime:
‘Any incident/crime, which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice based on a person’s disability or perceived disability.’
Association of Chief Police Officers and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
Disability hate crime can involve:
- public order offences, such as being shouted at on the street, harassment at bus stops, on the bus or on other public transport,
- physical assaults such as being hit or punched, being tipped out of a wheelchair
offensive ‘jokes’ - damaging disability equipment for example, car, wheelchair
- attacks against people’s homes or day centres such as graffiti or breaking windows
physical and sexual assaults and neglect in the home, including residential services and sheltered accommodation - regularly blocking access – for example deliberately parking in a Blue Badge space, or putting bins in front of access to people’s homes,
- threats, including to family members, partners, personal assistants, and support workers
Other hate crimes/offences:
In Knowsley the following types of hate are recognised and recorded for the purposes of a hate incident:
· Race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, or national origins
· Religion
· Gender or gender identity
· Sexual orientation
· Age
· Any other lifestyle choice or perceived vulnerability which causes the individual concerned, or any other person to feel that the individual is being targeted as a consequence. Examples would include the homeless, rough sleepers, sex workers, goths, punks.
Mate crime:
Most friends are genuine friends, however sometimes people’s friendship is not genuine, they pretend to be friends, but do things to take advantage of a person, for example borrowing money but never paying it back, going out and always getting the other person to pay for everything.
‘Mate Crime’ is a term used where people in the community, particularly people with learning disabilities or mental health issues are befriended with the intention of them being exploited and abused financially, physically, emotionally, or otherwise.
Mate Crime is also a form of disability hate crime.
A person experiencing mate crime may be unaware of any hidden motives and not realise what is happening. People with a learning disability, learning difficulties or mental health conditions may have less control and ability to develop and maintain friendships and this can lead to an acceptance of unequal relationships. Mate Crime does not start with bullying, but it can become bullying.
Examples of mate crime
· The mate borrowing a mobile phone and uses up all the credit.
· The mate coming round every time it’s benefit day to go to the pub and spend my money.
· Family members taking the persons money without asking.
· The mate taking the person out in the car every Thursday and charging the person £20 for petrol each time.
· The mates always going to the persons flat for a party on a Friday night and the person always pays for food and drink
Mate crimes are disability hate crimes and should be reported.
For more information and how to report please see:
Hate crime | Knowsley Council