Hate Crime

What is a hate crime?

A hate crime is any unwanted behaviour directed at an individual because of their disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or transgender identity. Hate crime can include threatening behaviour, assault, robbery, damage to property, harassment or inciting others to commit hate crimes.

How to report a hate crime

If you feel you are a victim of any hate incident you can report it:

• via the West Yorkshire Police online form
• to the police on 101 or 999 if the situation requires an urgent response. 
• to Bradford Hate Crime Alliance
• in person at one of the reporting centres (see attached document)

About hate crime

Bradford Council is committed to raising awareness of hate crimes and to increase hate crime reporting across the District. The Council is working in partnership with Bradford Hate Crime Alliance, Victim Support, the Police and a range of community partners, to establish a robust framework to support the reporting and recording of all hate crimes.

To understand and effectively respond to hate crimes we need our local residents to feel confident to report all instances of hate crime even if they feel that these don’t warrant action by the Police.

Bradford currently has a number of hate crime reporting centres, which offer support to victims to report and record incidents using online reporting systems.

Online reporting provides individuals with an alternative to contacting the police, People are able to complete online reports anonymously or as a third party report.

Third party reporting is an opportunity for members of the public or individuals to report an incident where they may not have been the victim or directly involved in, but may have witnessed an incident or it may be reported to them.

Bradford Council is helping to raise awareness of Hate Crime so more victims are supported and greater numbers of offenders are brought to justice.

Crimes become Hate Crimes when victims believe they have been targeted because of their disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or transgender.

There is no evidence to suggest Hate Crime is worse in Bradford than other parts of the UK.

It is widely believed that the majority of Hate Crimes are not reported so we have helped Bradford Hate Crime Alliance set up 27 independent Hate Crime Reporting Centres with specially trained staff, where you can report Hate Crime, but don’t have to give your details to the Police. A list of the Hate Crime Reporting Centres is attached

To report Hate Crime to West Yorkshire Police call 101. Always call 999 in an emergency.