Hate Incidents & Crimes
Gloucester City Homes take all hate crime incidents in any form against any member of our community, including our staff and contractors and associated agents extremely seriously and will deal with all reports in line with this policy. These will be passed to uur Homes & Neighbourhood Team to investigate.
Partners
We work in partnership with agencies such as the Police, Council and Victim Support. Whilst we take all reports of hate incidents seriously and encourage tenants to report incidents to us, we also encourage you to contact relevant agencies who specialise in these areas.
There is a distinct difference between a hate incident and a hate crime.
A hate incident is defined as:
‘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.’ -Home Office & Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) 2005.
A hate crime is defined as:
‘Any hate incident, which constitutes a criminal offence, perceived by the victim or any other person, as being motivated by prejudice or Hate crime.’ – Home Office & ACPO 2005.
Gloucester City Homes identifies a racist incident as:
“Any incident which is perceived as racist by the victim or any other person.”
(Rec. 12 of Stephen Lawrence enquiry McPherson report 1999)
It is a hate incident or crime if the victim or anyone else thinks it was motivated by hostility or prejudice based on one of the aspects below:
- Race
- Religion
- Disability
- Sexual orientation
- Transgender identity
When a hate crime or incident is reported to us, we will sensitively investigate it thoroughly and will contact the reporter within 1 working day.
Where a hate crime or incident is reported to us we cannot always take enforcement action without evidence, nevertheless, all reporters and witnesses will be supported throughout the investigation and will be dealt with in a supportive, sensitive way. If you are feeling vulnerable in your home following a hate crime incident, we will offer you target hardening measures.
If you are in immediate need of assistance, or if a crime is in progress, then phone 999. To report to the police please phone 101 (non-emergency number) or report online at www.gloucestershire.police.uk/contact-us/report-a-crime-or-incident. If you wish to report crime anonymously then you can report through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or report online at crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information
If you do make a report to the Police, please let GCH know that this has happened along with any incident/crime numbers.
We can also make referrals to appropriate support agencies (with your consent) to provide you with additional support.
Where there is offensive graffiti on a property as a result of a hate crime or incident, we will remove it within one working day from being reported to us. We will also endeavour to respond to damage to a property within one working day where a hate crime or incident has occurred.