Hate Crime: The UK Journey Craig Barnes Craig.Barnes@geo.gov.uk.

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Hate Crime: The UK Journey

Craig Barnes

Craig.Barnes@geo.gov.uk

Government Equalities Office

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 escalationin seriousness

• Legal duties

• It is a government priority - particularly under-reporting

Government Equalities Office

Victim experiencesHow good are the UK?

• Victims more likely to experience again:

Household crime (36-27%) Personal crime (26-21%)

• Low police satisfaction levels (53-72%)

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 Visionwww.report-it.org.uk

Government Equalities Office

ContactCraig Barnes

LGB&T Policy Adviser

Craig.Barnes@geo.gov.uk

Useful linksGovernment Equalities Office

www.gov.uk/geo

Home Officewww.gov.uk/homeoffice

True Visionwww.report-it.org.uk

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