Hate Crime
What is a hate crime?
A hate crime is any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice based on these strands:
- Race
- Religion
- Disability
- Sexual orientation
- Transgender
Therefore, a criminal offence must have taken place for it to be a hate crime.
Examples include
- If someone throws a brick through the window of a house where the residents of that house belong to one of the above 5 groups
- If someone is physically assaulted because they belong to one of the 5 groups
- Someone has something stolen from them because they belong to one of the above 5 groups
- Graffiti on property where someone who belongs to one of the above 5 group lives
Then a hate crime has been committed.
The effect on a victim of hate crime
Hate crime is a very personal crime – it is about who you are and has a very negative impact on the victim. What might be considered as trivial to you, such as pushing someone because you don’t like who they are, can have a massive impact on the victim. Can you imagine how you would feel if every time you walked home from school you had to change your route because you were afraid that someone was going to harm you?
The consequences of a hate crime
If a person is found guilty in court of a crime that was committed because the victim was a member of the above 5 groups, then the judge can give a higher penalty for the hate element.
Let’s say that someone is found guilty of criminal damage because they threw a brick through someone’s window. The judge might give a £300 fine but if the victim was a member of one of the 5 groups, the judge could increase that to £400, for example.
Remember: The age of criminal responsibility is 10 years!
Hate Incidents
A hate incident is basically the similar definition as a hate crime, but no offence has taken place.
Examples could be
- Making an offensive gesture towards someone who belongs to the above 5 groups
- Name calling
- Saying nasty things about them on social media which is aimed at the fact that they belong to one of the above 5 groups
- Sending nasty text messages to someone who belongs to one of the above 5 groups.
What to do if you think you have been a victim of a hate crime or hate incident
- Contact Police on 101 or online: Report hate crime | Wiltshire Police
- You can also report via True Vision: report-it.org.uk
- For Over 25’s Via CrimeStoppers Independent UK charity taking crime information anonymously | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org)
- For Under 25’s via Fearless: Give information about crime 100% anonymously | Fearless | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org)
Support and help from local organisations
Truevision
Description: Police funded website that gives information on all Hate Crime and how to report it. It also lists other partners and can be found on the left hand side navigation pane, selecting “organizations that can help”
Contact details
Email: [email protected]
Online reporting:www.report-it.org.uk/your_police_force
West Wiltshire Multi Faith Forum
Referrals via website on www.wwmff.org.uk
Description: Promotes respect and understanding between people living in our communities whatever their background, culture or belief.
Contact details
Email: [email protected]
Online contact form: Contact – West Wilts Multi Faith Forum (wwmff.org.uk)
Victim Support
0808 281 0113
Description: Offer free, confidential and independent support to victims of crime, including hare crime, and traumatic incidents. Open Mon-Fri 9-5.
Translators and BSL available.
Contact details
Out of Hours Support Line: 08 08 16 89 111
Wiltshire Contact number: 0808 281 0113
Referrals to [email protected]
Care Support Wiltshire
Description: Carer Support Wiltshire is a registered charity that supports all unpaid carers, from 5 years upwards, in Wiltshire. Our aim is to create a society which understands and supports unpaid carers. We also operate in Dorset under the name Carer Support Dorset.
We help carers to access services, information, education and training, respite, and breaks from their caring role. We ensure they have a voice that is heard and work with health and social care professionals and employers to raise carer awareness and develop best practice.
Contact details
Telephone: 0800 181 4118 or General Enquiries 01380 871690
Email: [email protected]
Postal Address: Independent Living Centre, St George’s Road, Semington, nr. Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 6JQ
Online Contact Form: Contact CSW | Carer Support Wiltshire
The Harbour Project, Swindon
01793 611682
Aids refugees and asylum seekers across Swindon.
The Swindon Transgender Group
Website: swindon-tg-group.yolasite.com
Broadgreen Community Centre, Gladstone St, Swindon SN1 2AN
Local Transgender group to provide support and information to those who are confused about gender or looking for a safe environment.
Wessex Community Action
Lists a number of LGBTQ+ groups in Wiltshire including groups including Melksham, Malmesbury, Salisbury, Chippenham and Swindon
Mermaids
Description: Mermaids has been supporting transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse children, young people, and their families since 1995.
Contact details
Telephone: 0808 801 0400 (Mon – Fri, 0900 to 2100 hours)
Email: [email protected]
SMS: 85258
Postal Address;
Main Office: Suite 4, Tarn House, 77 the High Street, Yeadon, Leeds, LS19 7SP
London Office: Garden Studios, 71-75 Shelton Street, London, WC2H 9JQ
MENCAP
Description: Everything we do is about valuing and supporting people with a learning disability, and their families and carers.
Our vision is a world where people with a learning disability are valued equally, listened to and included.
Contact details
Telephone: 0808 808 1111 (9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday)
Email: [email protected]
Wiltshire Youth Disabled Group
Description: The Wiltshire Youth Disabled Group (WYDG)is a place to make new friends, have fun and share experiences. Food is provided and transport can be arranged.
Contact Details
Telephone: 01373 859485
Email: [email protected]
MIND
Description: We won't give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect.
Contact details
Telephone: 0300 123 3393
Email: [email protected]
General Enquiries;
Postal Address: 2 Redman Place, London E20 1JQ
Reception: 020 8519 2122
Supporter relations: 020 8215 2243
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 020 8522 1725
Mind Cymru
3rd Floor, Castlebridge 4, Castlebridge, 15-19 Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff CF11 9AB
Telephone: 029 2039 5123
Email: [email protected]
Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living
11, Couch Lane, Devizes SN10 1EB Tel: 0300 123 3442
adults.wiltshire.gov.uk/Services/907/Wiltshire-Centre-for
Core work is to support disabled people across Wiltshire.
As We Are
www.autism.org.uk/directory/a/as-we-aresalisbury
Description: The Salisbury AS We Are group (there are also groups in Chippenham and Trowbridge) gives adults with autism the chance to get together once a fortnight, for a couple of hours with someone who knows what it feels like to be them. We meet as adults, in adult spaces and the agenda is purely social. People can chat or stay on the edge, they can display their autism as much as they want and they will not be judged. You have to pay your way like any other social group but most people only come to the sessions which interest them. All sessions take place with a walk or bus-ride of Salisbury city centre. There is no fee or 'sub' involved, all members who offer an email address or mobile number will get a fortnightly text and email letting everyone know what we are doing that week. Sessions are not planned far in advance to help keep the group responding to members ideas and preferences. Over the course of the year we have between 22-24 meetings giving people the chance to try new places as well as return to favourites.
Contact Details
Telephone: 01722 820371
Postal Address: Heathwood, Fountain Way, Salisbury SP2 7FD
Fairfield Farm College - Trowbridge
Description: Fairfield Farm College is a Specialist College for students with learning disabilities and difficulties; it is a registered Charity, with residential, day and weekend courses. You can join our college and access our study programmes when you are between 16 and 19 years old, but can join when older providing you have completed your course before your 25th Birthday.
Contact Details
Telephone: 01373 823028
Email: [email protected]
Postal Address: 43 High Street, Dilton Marsh, Wiltshire, BA13 4DL
Farleigh Further Education College – Swindon
www.autism.org.uk/directory/p/priory-collegeswindon
Description: The College provides specialist services for young people with Asperger syndrome and associated disorders. Staff work with individuals, their families and involved professionals, in designing an individualised, person centred programme of education and care.
Contact Details
Telephone: 01793 484031
Email: [email protected]
Postal Address: Fairview House, Bath Road, Old Town, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 4AS
Focus Point Community Resource Centre – Salisbury
www.turning-point.co.uk/focus-point.aspx
Description: Offers day opportunities for people with all levels of learning disabilities.
Contact Details
Telephone: 01722 413376
Postal Address: 62a Stratford Road, Salisbury SP1 3JN
Holy Trinity Church of England Academy – Calne
Description: Special unity for 8 pupils between the ages of 4-11 with a statement for autism and moderate learning disabilities.
Contact Details
Telephone: 01249 812424
Email: [email protected]
Postal Address: Holy Trinity CE Academy, 1 Quemerford, Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 0AR
Lifeways Community Care – Swindon
Description: Lifeways is the UK’s leading team of support professionals for adults with diverse and complex needs living fulfilling and independent lives in the community.
We put the person at the heart of everything. And we do everything we can to help those with complex needs to lead independent, fulfilling and happy lives. We’re proud to be known for providing extraordinary support, and for celebrating the positivity, individuality, and ambition of each person.
Contact Details
Telephone: 01793 539875
Email: [email protected]
Postal Address: Delta Business Park, Delta 608, Welton Rd, Swindon SN5 7XF
National Autistic Society – South Wiltshire Branch
https://www.autism.org.uk/directory/n/nassouth-wiltshire-branch
Description: We're here to help the 700,000 autistic people in the UK and their families. Be it running specialist schools, campaigning for improved rights or training companies on being more autism-friendly, we are dedicated to transforming lives and changing attitudes.
Contact Details
Telephone: 07795 368113
Email: [email protected]
Swindon Autism Support Service
localoffer.swindon.gov.uk/directory/providerdetails/217822
Description: We are an experienced and dedicated team of advisory teachers and support workers.
Contact Details
Telephone: 01793 464025
Email: [email protected]
Postal Address: The Salt Way Centre, Pearl Road, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 5TD
Wiltshire Sight
www.sightsupportwest.org.uk/wiltshire/
Description: Wiltshire Sight was set up in 1919 as Wiltshire Blind Association. It was founded to support Blind and Partially-Sighted people, and based in St John Street, Devizes.
We changed our name to Wiltshire Sight in September 2014, and moved into our new premises at St Lucy’s Centre, Bath Road, Devizes later that year.
Contact Details
Telephone: 01380 723 682
Email: [email protected]
Postal Address: Wiltshire Sight, St Lucy’s Sight Centre, Browfort, Bath Road, Devizes, SN10 2AT
Online Contact Form: www.sightsupportwest.org.uk/contact-us/
