Prejudice & Hate Crime

What is hate crime?
Hate crime is any offence committed against a person or property that is motivated by the offender's hatred of people because of their association with one or more of the equality strands. For example, you can be a victim of hate crime because of your race, religion, disability, age, sexuality or gender. Offences could include verbal and physical assault, damage to property and harassment.

Please report it
We know that the majority of incidents are never reported and we would like this to change. If you, or anyone you know, has been a victim of a hate crime then please report it. If you do so, you will:

Even if you don’t want it to go to court – please report it.

Even if you don’t want to give your name – please report it. You can remain anonymous if you want and give as much or as little information as you wish.

How to report hate crime

In an emergency always dial 999.

If you would like to report a hate crime incident to the police, please click on the below link:

https://services.devon-cornwall.police.uk/crimereporting/

If you would like to report the incident so as to make people aware, but do not want to report it directly to the police at this time, please download the Hate Reporting form.

 

Useful Websites and Documents:

ARC (the Association for Real Change) has received funding from the Department of Health to start a major new three year project on 'Mate Crime' and people with learning disabilities in North Devon.

"Mate crime' for many people with learning disabilities whose 'friends' who go on to abuse the trust placed in them. This has led to people losing their independence, financial, physical and sexual abuse and exploitation . . . even murder.

This project aims to prevent this abuse by increasing awareness of the issue for people with learning disabilities, carers, professionals and the wider community.

BME Service Directory for Devon
Includes details of Voluntary and Community Sector organisations working with BME communities and of statutory agencies and departments with particular focus on supporting BME populations.

Community Safety Mapping Project
The Community Safety Mapping Project is a short-term project that aims to reach out to some of the more isolated minority ethnic communities across Devon. The main focus of the project will be around community safety issues such as Hate Crime and relationships with the police, but the team will also listen and note concerns about other matters including education, health and housing. The project was developed by the Hate Crime Prevention Task Group, part of a multi-agency partnership, including Devon County Council and the Police, called the Safer Devon Partnership.

Devon Racial Equality Council
The Devon Racial Equality Council (Devon REC) is a registered charity, an independent and impartial membership body and is accredited by the Commission for Racial Equality.

Improvement & Development Agency
General information on hate crime.

Intercom Trust
Intercom is a lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community resource in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, providing help against homophobic and transphobic prejudice, crime and discrimination (including bullying, harrassment, abuse, attacks and threatening behaviour), helping to develop the LGB/T communities, providing professional training and consultancy, and working in partnership with local government, the police, health, etc.

Multilingua
Devon's countywide agency for face-to-face interpreting and translation services. Interpreters speak a wide range of languages and offer accurate, quick, confidential and impartial translation.

Multilingua can help your organisation communicate more effectively and overcome any cultural barriers that may result from situations where people speak different languages. They can help people who don't speak English get better access to services.

Open Hearts Open Minds
Open Hearts Open Minds is the social inclusion e-learning centre, keeping you in touch with essential news, tips and tools to help you to tackle social exclusion.

Policing without Prejudice – Diversity
The Police are currently working in partnership with minority groups to prevent crime and to build a relationship of trust with all sections of the community.

Stop Hate Crime
A hate crime is motivated by prejudice against someone's sex, racial heritage, religion, disability or sexual orientation. Incidents can involve violence, threats, property damage, verbal abuse, offensive messages or other harassment.

The Monitoring Group
The Monitoring Group has been monitoring and challenging racism, civil rights and of racism, domestic violence, religious extremism for over 30 years.

The Safe Place Scheme
The project aims to stop bullying and abuse of adults with learning disabilities across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

This scheme is supported by the North Devon and Torridge Diversity Forum locally, with officer support from Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, North Devon Council and Devon County Council. It is sponsored by Devon and Cornwall Constabulary.

The Safe Place stickers for people with learning disabilities can be found in the following places:

Barnstaple
Barnstaple Town in various places, Tescos, Argos, Wickes, Homebase and Spar.

Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe Town, most of the shops in the Town Centre and Sea Front.

South Molton
Spar, Kings Arms, Londis, Amory House, Library and Swimming Pool.

Holsworthy - various Town Centre.

Torrington - various Town Centre.

Voice UK (Vulnerable Victims Support and Safety Awareness)
Voice UK is a national charity which provides support to vulnerable people who have experienced crime or abuse or who may be at risk of being maltreated. Voice UK intend to play an active role in communities across the region to raise local awareness of disability crime and reduce its incidence in the area.