Everyone deserves to feel safe
We want everyone in our communities across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire to feel safe, respected and included.
We take a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime and will always take reports seriously.
What is Hate Crime?
Hate crime is any criminal offence that is motivated by hostility, prejudice or discrimination towards a person’s actual or perceived characteristic:
- Race, ethnicity, colour, nationality or national origin
- Religion or belief
- Disability or learning difficulty
- Sexual orientation
- Gender identity
Anyone can be a victim of a hate crime.
Hate crime can take many forms, including:
- Verbal abuse, threats or intimidation
- Physical assault
- Criminal damage or vandalism
- Graffiti
- Arson
- Harassment or bullying
- Online abuse, including social media posts, messages or comments
You do not need to prove why someone acted the way they did. If you, or anyone else, believes an incident was motivated or perceived by hostility or prejudice, it can be recorded as a hate crime. It will be recorded as a hate crime if the victim, or another perceives it to be motivated by prejudice, even if the offender was mistaken by the victim’s actual identity.
A hate crime occurs when a criminal offence has taken place and is motivated by hostility or prejudice towards a person’s actual or perceived characteristic.
A non-crime hate incident is when someone says or does something perceived to be hateful or offensive, but the behaviour does not meet the criminal threshold. These incidents can still be reported and recorded by the police to help identify patterns and protect communities.
Both can have a significant impact on victims and communities and should be taken seriously.
We are committed to creating safe, welcoming neighbourhoods where everyone can thrive.
Hate crime can have a devastating impact on individuals, families and communities. We will always:
- Listen and take reports seriously
- Offer support and guidance
- Work with the police and partner agencies
- Take action where tenancy conditions have been breached
- Support victims throughout the process
Donna Horwood, Hightown's Anti-Social Behaviour Officer says:
"Although Hightown is not registered as a Third-Party Reporting Centre through True Vision, we encourage residents to use the service. True Vision provides information covering all strands of hate crime and offers access to reporting tools, support services and guidance for victims."
True Vision allows victims and witnesses to report hate crime online and access information about support available in their area.
If you've been affected by hate crime, we are here to support you. If you believe you have been a victim or witnessed a hate crime where you live, we are here to support you.
After receiving a report, a member of our team will contact you to discuss your concerns and agree the most appropriate next steps. We can arrange a home visit or meet you at a location where you feel comfortable.
We will:
- Treat you with dignity and respect
- Listen carefully to your concerns
- Gather information to understand what has happened
- Explain the options available to you
- Support you in reporting incidents to the police or specialist agencies
- Work with other organisations where appropriate and with your consent
- Keep you informed and updated throughout the process
Depending on the circumstances, we may:
- Refer you to specialist support services
- Gather further evidence and speak with witnesses
- Take tenancy enforcement action where appropriate
- Work with partner agencies to improve your safety
Consider rehousing options in exceptional circumstances
Reporting Hate Crime
You can also report hate crime or hate incidents directly to Hightown through our website, resident portal or by contacting your Housing Officer.
If you experience or witness hate crime, please report it. By speaking up, you can help protect yourself, support others and make our communities safer for everyone.
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Some local police forces have specially trained Hate Crime Officers who can provide support, advice and assistance throughout the reporting and investigation process.
You can find out more about hate crime and reporting through your local police website:
Beacon Victim Care (Catch22)
Provides free and confidential support to victims and witnesses of crime in Hertfordshire, regardless of whether the crime was reported to the police.
Bedfordshire Victim Care Services
Provides free and confidential support to anyone affected by crime, even if it has not been reported to the police. Telephone: 0800 028 2887 Email
Provides emotional and practical support to victims and witnesses of crime across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes.
Telephone: 0300 1234 148
