Hate Crime

Everyone in our county, whether a resident or a visitor should be allowed to live their lives free from harassment, fear, and discrimination.

Hate crimes and non-crime hate incidents can cause great distress to victims and involved parties and we are committed to investigating all crimes and incidents motivated by hate, supporting victims, and where necessary bringing offenders to justice.

The law recognises five types of hate crime based on:

• Race
• Religion 
• Disability
• Sexual orientation 
• Transgender identity

Any crime can be prosecuted as a hate crime if the offender has either:

• demonstrated hostility based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity

Or

• been motivated by hostility based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity

Hate Incidents

Any incident where a crime has not been committed, but where it is perceived by the reporting person or any other person that the incident was motivated by hostility or prejudice based on race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity.

In relation to both hate crimes and incidents, a person reporting should also report if they believe they or someone else is being targeted for having the following characteristics:

• Alternative subculture

Please note that not all hate incidents will amount to criminal charges or be recorded, but it is equally important that these are reported.

Anti-antisemitism

The IHRA definition of antisemitism acts as a useful tool which helps officers to identify antisemitism. Our Chief Constable continues to recognise the importance of the IHRA definition to eradicate antisemitism in all its forms from our society.

The IHRA definition:

“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

Why report hate crimes and non-crime hate incidents?

The more information we gather on hate crimes and non-crime hate incidents, the more we can learn about what is happening within our communities and any patterns of offending. We can utilise the information to process criminal investigations where necessary and provide support to those who need it most by providing information, assistance, and guidance.

It is vital that the public report all perceived hate crimes and non-crime hate incidents to us, it is our expertise to investigate and pursue criminal charges if necessary and we can only do that if the public are comfortable and confident to report to us.

If you experience any crime or hostility that you feel is motivated by hate, whether to yourself or to someone else, please report it and we will do the rest.

How to report hate crime and non-crime hate incidents?

If you have witnessed or been a victim of hate crime you make a report by:

• Using our online reporting portal or via True Vision’s website
• Visiting a Third-Party Reporting Centre
• Calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
• Calling us on 101 or;
• In an emergency, dialling 999

Help and support

Lancashire Victim Services offer free and confidential emotional support and practical help to victims and witnesses of crime in Lancashire, regardless of whether the crime has been reported to the police.

Specialist crime advocates are able to provide expert advice and guidance including around hate crime.

Call Lancashire Victim Services 9am to 6:30pm, Mon – Fri, on 0300 323 0085. Calls outside of these hours will divert to the Victim Support National Support line.

Visit lancashirevictimservices.org for more information about the service, or for other ways to get in touch, including Live chat.

Pan-Lancashire Hate Crime Strategy 

The Hate Crime Strategy links with the wider partnership within Lancashire and brings together representatives from Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool Council, Crown Prosecution Services including Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise Sector to set the strategic direction and coordinate a partnership response to address hate crime within the region. The Hate Crime Strategy is managed and implemented by the Lancashire Strategic Hate Crime and Cohesion Group underpinned by a comprehensive delivery plan.

Pan-Lancashire Hate Crime Strategy 2022 - 2025

Hate Crime Victim Care Pack

Download our Hate Crime Victim Care Pack

Accessibility
Some of our PDF and Word documents are essential to sharing information. Over the coming months, we are reviewing all our web pages and making the necessary changes to ensure that they are accessible for all.

The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they are not essential to the organisation.

However, we recognise that there are several PDF and Word documents that are essential to our organisation and that we have a duty to publish these in a format accessible to all.  Alterative formats of all documents on our website are available upon request. You can make a request by emailing our Media and Engagement Department: 
HQ-MediaAndEngagement@lancashire.police.uk

Please make sure you include in your message the following:

1. The name of the document you require in an alternative format
2. The format you require the document in
3. Your name