Hate Crime:
The UK Journey
Craig Barnes
Craig.Barnes@geo.gov.uk
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.
Government Equalities Office
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
Government Equalities Office
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
Government Equalities Office
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
Government Equalities Office
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 (5372%)
 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%)
Government Equalities Office
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
Government Equalities Office
Operational guidance
Government Equalities Office
True Vision
• Purpose
 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
Government Equalities Office
True Vision
www.report-it.org.uk
Government Equalities Office
Contact
Craig Barnes
LGB&T Policy Adviser
Craig.Barnes@geo.gov.uk
Useful links
Government Equalities Office
www.gov.uk/geo
Home Office
www.gov.uk/homeoffice
True Vision
www.report-it.org.uk
Government Equalities Office