Hate crime is any offence committed against a person or property which is motivated by the offender's hatred of people because they are seen as being different.

This can include incidents relating to:

  • race or ethnicity
  • religion or beliefs
  • disability
  • transgender/gender identity
  • sexual orientation
  • lifestyle

A hate crime can take many forms including:

  • verbal abuse
  • physical assault
  • threats
  • burglary
  • violence
  • graffiti
  • bullying
  • damage to your property or belongings
  • vandalism
  • harassment
  • offensive letters

In the Harrogate district, hate crime is not perceived as being widespread, but it is notoriously under-reported and therefore it is important to monitor all instances of hate crime, while providing opportunities for victims to report incidents and access the support they need.

To report a hate crime incident to North Yorkshire Police please call 101. Always call 999 in an emergency.