Hate crime
What are hate crimes, how to report them and what support is available for victims of hate crime in Westminster.
What is hate crime?
A hate crime is defined as 'any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice. This can be based on a:
- person's race or perceived race
- religion or perceived religion
- sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation
- disability or perceived disability
- any crime motivated by hostility or prejudice against a person who is transgender or perceived to be transgender.
What is a hate incident?
Not all instances involving hate will amount to a criminal offence but are just as important to report. A hate incident is any non-criminal incident which the victim perceives is based on someone’s prejudice towards them because of a protected characteristic.
Hate crime and hate incidents can take many forms including physical and verbal attacks, vandalism, cyberbullying, offensive gestures, or threatening behaviour.
How to report it
All hate incidents are unacceptable and should be reported. Many victims do not report their experiences because they are scared, worried about not being believed, or think nothing can be done. By reporting hate crimes, you help us understand and respond to these incidents in Westminster.
Your report can help us identify where, how, and why these incidents occur, and it may also encourage others who have been hesitant to come forward. There are several ways to report hate crime, either directly to the police or through a third party.
Contact the police to report a hate crime, in an emergency you should always call 999
- if it is not an emergency call 101
- if you have a hearing or speech impairment use the MPS text phone service:
- for emergencies text 18000 to 999
- for non-emergencies text 18001 to 101
- Report it to the police online
You can report an incident anonymously. However, we do encourage victims to provide personal details that can help with the investigation.
If you are a Westminster Housing tenant, you can also report to your ASB case officer
What is the impact?
The impact of hate crime and hate incidents on individuals and their families can be devastating, affecting their social, psychological, and physical well-being. When people are targeted because of personal characteristics, they often live in fear of further incidents, which can lead to social isolation. This not only affects the individual but can also have a broader impact on the community, especially those who share the same characteristic.
Below is a list of support services for victims of hate crime and hate incidents.
Restorative Justice for Victims of Hate Crime
Restorative Justice is a confidential and impartial service. Restorative Justice gives victims a voice, providing a safe space to meet or communicate with the person who has caused them harm. This could be indirectly via a letter or directly in a face-to-face meeting.
Calm Mediation Restorative Justice Service is commissioned by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) to provide the restorative justice service for London.
Restorative justice can be accessed at any time. Calm Mediation will support you through the process at a time that is right for you. Restorative Justice is voluntary. Both Victim and Offender must be willing to take part in the process.
The Hate Crime Support Brochure
The impact of hate crime and hate incidents on individuals and their families can be devastating, affecting their social, psychological, and physical well-being. The Hate Crime Support Brochure contains a list of support services for victims of hate crime and hate incidents.
The Hate Crime Support Brochure has been translated into the following languages. Please click on the relevant link to download:
Support services
General support
Working in partnership with community groups and specialist agencies to support victims of Hate Crime. This includes ‘third party reporting centres’, enabling victims to report crime without having to deal directly with police.
A group of charities working together to end hate crime, offering advocacy services to people over 18 years old.
Advocacy and Support centre which is available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Stop Hate UK run awareness campaigns which help to ensure that people affected by Hate Crime and discrimination are seen, heard and supported.
Third-Party reporting service which help to support victims of Hate Crime, including Internet Hate Crime and Alternative sub-cultures Hate Crime.
Disability and mental health
Help to raise awareness of hate offences against disabled people and provides advice and support for victims and their associates.
Race and religion
Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks (MAMA) is a secure and reliable service that allows people from across England to report any form of Anti-Muslim abuse.
CST is a charity that protects British Jews from antisemitism and related threats. CST provides security advice and training for Jewish communal organisations, schools and synagogues.
To end racism and discrimination against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people and to protect the right to pursue a nomadic way of life.
Anti-racism organisation that focuses on aiding victims of racist hate crime through casework, campaigns, and research. Victims of racism can report the crime through this organisation with the option of remaining anonymous.
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Supporting LGBTQI+ people who are victims of hate-crime domestic abuse, sexual violence, and other forms of abuse
Supporting trans, non-binary and gender-diverse children and young people, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care.
National organisation supporting victims of disabled LGBTQI+ hate-crime.
Raising awareness
- Hate Crime Awareness Week, 12 to 19 October 2024
- Zero Discrimination Day, 1 March
Race and religion
- World Hijab Day, 1 February
- Race Equality Week, 5 to 11 February
- Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller Month, June
- South Asian Heritage Month, 19 July to 17 August
- East and Southeast Asian Heritage month, September
- Black History Month, October
- Latin American Heritage Month, 15 September to 15 October
- Islamophobia Awareness Month, November
Sexual orientation and gender identity
- LGBTQ+ History Month, February
- Women's History Month, March
- Pride Month, June
- Disability Pride Month, July
- Transgender Awareness Month, November
- Transgender Awareness Week, 13 to 19 November
Disability, mental health and age
- Disability Pride Month, July
- International Day of Older Persons, 1 October
- UK Disability History Month, 16 November to 16 December
Published: 5 August 2024
Last updated: 19 February 2025
