Avon and Somerset Police are urging people to stand together against hate and report it when they see it.
With terms like “hate crime,” “non-crime hate incident,” and “hate speech” appearing frequently in the news, police want to help people understand what they mean and how to take action.
A hate crime is any criminal offence motivated by hostility towards someone’s race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or transgender identity.
A non-crime hate incident is where no crime has been committed, but the behaviour, such as offensive comments or gestures, is still perceived to be motivated by prejudice. These incidents can still be reported to help identify patterns and prevent escalation.
Avon and Somerset Chief Constable Sarah Crew says recent rises in racial and religious hate are deeply concerning, and that everyone deserves to feel safe in their community.
Police say reporting hate helps stop it from getting worse, prevents further harm, and supports victims.
You can report a hate crime online, or by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency.
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