Hate crime and prejudice-based behaviours: Recognise and report hate crime

Being able to recognise and report hate crime is crucial to making a change in society. Experiencing hate crime has a detrimental effect on physical and mental health, it can lead to increased conflict in communities and, if it goes unreported, it is as if the behaviour is acceptable and is therefore more likely to increase.

Watch the videos Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words make our lives a living hell and Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words make me feel hated just for being me (YouTube).

The quotes below are from real victims of hate crime as part of the Scottish Government Hate Hurts campaign:

“The words they used have had a scarring effect on me. I’ve felt very threatened and vulnerable”.

“My daughter repeatedly asked me, ‘Mum, can I scrub off my brown, can I scrub myself white’?”

Words alone can have a huge impact. Reporting hate crime sends a message that all are included and valued, and that the behaviour is not acceptable. A witness reporting a hate crime also helps victims see that they are not alone and that not everyone feels like their attacker does.

Hate crime is an attack on someone’s identity or perceived identity. It puts a negative label on them and can have a lifelong impact. Reporting it does not turn back time, but it does help to prevent it in future.

Seemingly low level or minor events may in fact have a significant impact on the victim. Crime type alone does not necessarily dictate impact or consequences of the action. Repeated targeting of a person, whether by the same perpetrator or not, can lead to what is known as the ‘drip drip’ effect. In other words, with seemingly minor incidents, the repeated nature could affect the person’s ability to cope. Each individual will be affected differently.