1. Hate Crime: The UK Journey
Craig Barnes

2. Background
The Government Equalities Office works to take action on the government’s commitment to remove barriers to equality and help to build a fairer society.
Specific responsibility for LGB&T equality policy.
Work across government to see where LGB&T needs can be better addressed.
Regular engagement with key LGB&T stakeholders.
LGB&T groups told us that action should be focussed on preventing and tackling hate crime and homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in schools.

3. Hate crime – how did we get here?
Civil Disorder 1980s and 2001
Stephen Lawrence 1993 London
Johnny Delaney 2003 Cheshire
Anthony Walker 2005 Merseyside
Jody Dobrowski 2005 London
Sophie Lancaster 2007 Lancashire

4. What is a hate crime? The UK stance
Criminal Justice System definition:
“In the absence of a precise legal definition of hostility, let us consider dictionary definitions including 'unfriendliness', 'antagonism' and 'meanness’ ” – Director of Public Prosecutions, October 2008
Human rights approach adopted
Stephen Lawrence Inquiry definition:
Importance of ‘perception’.
Importance of Non-crime incidents.
Strands of ‘Monitored’ Hate Crime
Disability, Race, Religion, Sexual Orientation and Transgender

5. Why is hate crime important?
Has a greater impact on the victim
Affects wider community
Has an impact on community cohesion
Affects confidence in the police and others
Effective response prevents escalation
in seriousness
Legal duties
It is a government priority - particularly under-reporting

6. Victim experiences How good are the UK?
Victims more likely to experience again:
Household crime (36-27%)
Personal crime (26-21%)
Low police satisfaction levels (53-72%)
Respect (76-88%)
Fairness (59-80%)
Impact
Greater emotional impact:
94-82% emotionally affected
Anger (61-57%)
Fear (39-15%)
Anxiety/panic attacks (22-9%)
Depression (24-8%)

7. Legislative tools Incitement to hatred
Race
Religion
Sexual Orientation
Racially and Religiously Motivated Offences
Limited
Creates unintended hierarchy
Enhanced Sentencing
Section 145 and 146 Criminal Justice Act 2003
Racially and Religiously Aggravated Offences
Law Commission Review

8. Operational guidance

9. True Vision Purpose Library of resources include:
provides information to victims, professionals and advocates
provides a library of (free!) resources
allows online reporting (inc. anonymously)
Library of resources include:
information packs
reporting tools
third party reporting support
training materials
education packs
10,000 visitors per month - 7 pages
3,400 reports per year

10. True Vision www.report-it.org.uk

11. Government Equalities Office
Contact
Craig Barnes
LGB&T Policy Adviser
Useful links
Government Equalities Office
Home Office
True Vision