All residents have the right to live peacefully in their home and neighbourhood and we’re committed to tackling all forms of hate crime/incidents swiftly and sensitively.

What is a hate crime?

A hate crime is any criminal offence thought by the victim, or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person’s:

• Race.
• Religion.
• Sexual orientation.
• Disability.
• And any crime motivated by hostility or prejudice against a person who is transgender.

Hate crime can be a physical assault, verbal abuse (like threats or name-calling) and incitement to hatred (for example, information posted on websites).

A hate incident may or may not constitute a criminal offence, but it’s still perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by prejudice or hate.

You can read about the service we provide in relation to hate crime/incidents by downloading our service standard below.

What should I do if someone commits a hate crime against me?

If you, or someone you know, experiences a hate crime or incident, you can report it to us (we are a third-party reporting centre for hate crime) or the Police. In an emergency, always call 999.

If you would like a copy of our full hate crime policy, please call us on 0300 333 6540 or email enquiries@bvt.org.uk