Reporting hate incidents
Northumbria Police and our partner agencies serve a diverse community, and recognise everyone’s right to live their life free from harassment and the fear of crime.
A hate incident is an incident motivated by the offender’s prejudice against the victim, based on a perceived difference. The types of hate incident we deal with are: racist, faith-based, homophobic, disability-based, transphobic, gender or age- based. They can include:
Violence against the person, from verbal abuse and threats to physical assault
Damage to property, including graffiti
Harassment
If the victim or any other person believes that the incident was motivated by this type of prejudice, then it will be classed as a hate incident. Of course, incidents like these should always be reported to the police, but if they are motivated by prejudice, the harm is greater and so is the need to report it.
Reporting hate incidents
The easiest and quickest way is to use the regular method of reporting an incident to the police:
Call Northumbria Police on 101.
Deaf and hard of hearing: minicom on 01661 820 915 or text 07786 200 815
In an emergency call 999
Visit your local police station or speak to a police officer on duty
We want to stop people committing hate crime, and prevent others from being hurt. In order for us to take positive action against offenders, enforcing the law to the maximum, we need your support.
This could mean providing us with enough details to allow us to make follow-up enquiries with you before making an arrest. It is also important that we know the true extent of hate incidents in our area, so we can take action to help prevent it.
If you do not wish to have direct contact with a police officer, there are other ways to contact Northumbria Police. You can also report an incident and choose not to inform the police, or not to give your personal details. The options you have are:
Use a partnership arrangement such as ARCH
Call CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111
Northumbria Police is divided into six area command units. Each area command has one or more Community Support Coordinators who provide a unique support service to members of minority communities. Click here to find out who your Community Support Coordinator is. Each neighbourhood has a dedicated neighbourhood policing team.
For further information about how we deal with hate incidents and crime, call the Public Protection Unit at Northumbria Police Headquarters on 01661 868 467.