Hate crime
Stop Hate Crime - Report It!
If you live, work or simply visit Hackney and have experienced hate crime in the borough you can report it to any Neighbourhood Housing Office.
To report hate crime contact your local neighbourhood housing office or freephone 0800 056 0905.
Hate crime can include domestic violence and crimes or incidents against people because of their race, faith, disability or because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Hate crime can be in the form of harassment, physical or sexual abuse, assaults, verbal, written or printed abuse, graffiti or damage to your home or property.
Hate crime incidents can take many forms. It can be physical, verbal or non-verbal and includes:
- Physical assault
- Threats of violence or assault
- Harassment
- Written or verbal abuse or threats
- Damage to property or possessions
- Racist, hate motivated or offensive graffiti
- Arson
- Neighbour disputes
- Abusive or obscene phone calls
- Intimidating groups hanging around
- Offensive leaflets or posters
- Rubbish dumping outside of your home or letterbox
- Bullying at school or in the workplace
- Practical jokes
- Making fun of a disability
- Gestures
A hate crime is any incident which may or may not constitute a criminal offence, which is perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by prejudice or hate.
A victim of hate crime does not have to be a member of a minority group or someone who is generally considered to be a vulnerable person. Anyone can be a victim of hate crime.
If any tenant or leaseholder is experiencing hate crime or anti-social behaviour, we will arrange an interview within three (3) working days or within twenty-four (24) hours for emergency cases.
We will take all reasonable steps to promote and defend the rights of women, men and children to live free from violence, intimidation and abuse.
We work with other agencies and in partnership with the police and Hackney Council services to make sure that a range of services and support are available to people suffering from hate crime incidents.
- Treat all reports of hate crime incidents seriously
- Provide a customer-centred approach when dealing with hate crime incidents
- Investigate all hate crime incidents that are reported to us
- Make sure that our staff are sensitive to the needs of those experiencing hate crime
- Arrange for emergency accommodation for a tenant and their household if they are assessed as a being in immediate danger if this will reduce the risk
- Offensive and hate crime graffiti will be removed within 3 hours of being reported to the Hackney Homes Contact Centre (phone 020 8356 3691)
- Where possible, arrange for the person reporting the hate crime to speak to an officer of the same sex, if requested
- Provide an interpreter or signer, if required
- Enable and empower victims of hate crime incidents to make informed choices by offering advocacy services, information and support.
- Liaise, on your behalf, with external agencies such as the police and victim support groups. We will only do this with your agreement or if we are required to do so by law
- Discuss all options available to you regarding re-housing, obtaining legal advice, specialist support and advice about your safety
- Formally acknowledge and report every report of a hate crime incident and give you information on what will happen next
We will achieve this by...
- Making sure that all staff are aware of the importance of client confidentiality and the implications this may have for a person's safety
- Taking enforcement action against tenants who are responsible for hate crime. This may include losing their tenancy or lease
- Monitoring and reporting all reports of hate crime incidents so that we can improve our response
- Displaying information such as posters and leaflets in all of our receptions that explain how we can help you deal with hate crime
- Training all staff on our Hate Crime policies and procedures
Please report any incidents of hate crime to your neighbourhood office or freephone the Domestic Violence and Hate Crime Team on 0800 056 0905 or email dvrhadvice@hackney.gov.uk
Domestic Violence and Hate Crime Team
Phone: 0800 056 0905 (freephone)
9.30am - 5.00pm Monday - Friday
Email: dvrhadvice@hackney.gov.uk
Phone: 0800 056 0905 (freephone)
9.30am - 5.00pm Monday - Friday
Email: dvrhadvice@hackney.gov.uk
Hackney Police Community Safety Unit
Phone: 020 7275 3087
Phone: 020 7275 3087
In an emergency phone 999
Hackney and Victim Support
Phone: 020 8533 5332
Phone: 020 8533 5332
The Housing Advice Centre and Homelessness Centre
Phone: 020 8356 2929
Phone: 020 8356 2929
Childline (24 hour helpline for children and young people)
Phone: 0800 1111
Phone: 0800 1111
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Helpline: 0845 604 6610
Helpline: 0845 604 6610
Phone: 020 7939 0000
Hackney Homophobic Crime Forum (Frontline services)
Phone: 020 7275 3087
Phone: 020 7275 3087
GALOP (Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community safety charity)
Phone: 020 7704 2040
Phone: 020 7704 2040
East London Out Project - ELOP (Lesbian, gay men, bisexual and transgender victim support group)
Phone: 020 8509 3898
Phone: 020 8509 3898