Introduction
England, Scotland and Wales
Northern Ireland

Introduction

Being a victim of hate crime can leave a person fearful, isolated and vulnerable and can severely undermine their sense of safety in their school/college and/or community. It impacts greatly on self-confidence and self-worth and can lead to depression, anxiety and, in extreme cases, suicide.

The NASUWT believes that all children and young people and staff in schools and colleges have a right to learn and work in a safe and secure environment that is free from intimidation, harassment, abuse and fear and where they feel valued and respected.

Tackling hate crime

Schools and colleges can contribute to tackling hate crime by ensuring that:

• the school/college promotes a climate of respect;

• every student, staff member and parent/carer within the school/college community feels valued and secure;

• the curriculum reflects and represents accurately the diverse nature of the UK and the world and addresses issues of diversity in ways that counter prejudiced assumptions;

• false assumptions and stereotypes are challenged with sound factual information;

• they are vigilant for any signs of name-calling, abuse or bullying involving any member of the school/college community;

• all incidents of name-calling, abuse and bullying are reported, recorded and dealt with promptly and sensitively;

• all staff are given appropriate training and support to enable them to tackle discrimination, bullying and harassment and promote equality of opportunity.

England, Scotland and Wales

A hate crime is ‘any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards someone based on a personal characteristic’. [1]

Hate crimes are any crimes that are targeted against a person because of hostility or prejudice towards that person’s:

• disability;

• race or ethnicity;

• religion or belief;

• sexual orientation;

• gender identity.

Hate crimes can be committed against a person or their property.

England and Wales

In March 2022, there were 155,841 hate crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales, a 26 per cent increase compared with the previous year. [2] This was the biggest percentage increase in hate crimes since the year ending March 2017, when there was a 29 per cent rise.

Scotland

Hate crimes aggravated by sexual orientation and disability in Scotland have reached an all-time high.

Charges against people accused of committing crimes motivated by their victim’s disability climbed by 3% in 2022-23, taking it to the highest level since current laws came into force in 2010.

The proportion of charges involving sexual orientation-based prejudice more than doubled from 16% in 2013-14 to 33% in 2022-23, according to a report by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).

There were also 55 reports of hate crimes against those of transgender identity in 2022-23.

Racial crime is still the most commonly reported hate crime, with a total of 3,145 instances reported in 2022-23, a decrease of 2% compared to the previous year.

Overall, however, there was a 2% drop in hate crime-related charges reported to the COPFS in comparison to last year, from 5,851 in 2021-22 to 2022-23 in 5,738

On 1 April 2024, the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 came into effect. This contains the new crime of stirring up hatred against any of the protected groups mentioned in the Act.

More information can be found in Scotland's Hate crime strategy delivery plan.

Legislation addressing hate crime

The Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act 2010 provides protection against discrimination to those with a protected characteristic. [3] It also places a duty on public authorities (which includes schools and academies) to advance equality of opportunity, eliminate discrimination and foster good relations between different groups.

The duty has three aims. It requires public bodies to have due regard to the need to:

• eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Act;

• advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it;

• foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.

Action to eliminate discrimination and advance equality should be an integral part of the work undertaken to address all forms of hate crime.

Community cohesion

The duty placed on maintained schools to report on their work was repealed in 2011. However, as part of the 2006 Education and Inspections Act, maintained schools, academies and free schools are required to promote community cohesion as required by the funding agreements with the Department for Education (DfE). [4]

It is for the accountable body to decide how to fulfil the duty in light of their local circumstances.

Criminal law

Some types of harassing or threatening behaviour, or communications, could be a criminal offence, for example under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, the Malicious Communications Act 1988, the Communications Act 2003 and the Public Order Act 1986.

It may be appropriate to involve the police.

What do I do if I am a victim of hate crime?

• keep a log of all incidents, including copies of memos and letters and a diary of events;

• speak to someone about the incidents, such as a family member, a counsellor or a trusted work colleague;

• where the behaviour is having a detrimental effect on health, contact a GP.

 

Northern Ireland

There is no statutory definition of ‘hate crime’ in Northern Ireland. In recording hate crime, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has adopted the definition for racially motivated crime recommended by the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, namely: ‘Any crime which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person’.

The PSNI records six different categories of hate crime:

• racist;

• homophobic;

• sectarian;

• faith/religious incidents (non-sectarian);

• disablist;

• transphobic.

Updated stats on hate crime in Northern Ireland can be found on the Police Service of Northern Ireland website (pdf).

Legislation addressing hate crime

Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Section 75, 76)

Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 places a duty on designated public authorities in Northern Ireland to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity and good relations across a range of different groups, including disabled and non-disabled people.

Schools are currently exempt from Section 75 but the Education Authority (EA), Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) and the Department of Education (DE) are all covered by the legislation:

• Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Schedule 9);

• Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (SENDO);

• Disability Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 2006;

• The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (the SEND Act).

The SENDO and the Disability Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 prohibit discrimination and harassment of disabled people and disability-related discrimination in Northern Ireland. Schools, the EA, universities and colleges, including teacher training colleges, cannot discriminate against a disabled person or a person who has had a disability in the past for an unjustified disability-related reason.

The types of conduct made unlawful or prohibited by the Northern Ireland Act are:

• direct discrimination;

• indirect discrimination;

• disability-related discrimination;

• failure to comply with a duty to make reasonable adjustments;

• harassment; and

• victimisation.

What do I do if I am a victim of hate crime?

• keep a log of all incidents, including copies of memos and letters and a diary of events;

• speak to someone about the incidents, such as a family member, a counsellor or a trusted work colleague;

• where the behaviour is having a detrimental effect on health, contact a GP.

 

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Footnotes
Notes
[1] Common definition agreed by the police, Crown Prosecution Service, Prison Service and other agencies that make up the criminal justice system
[2] Hate Crime, England and Wales, 2021 to 2022
[3] Protected characteristics apply to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation
[4] DfE, Governance Handbook, November 2015

 

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