Hate crime

East Renfrewshire is a place where everyone is welcome, and the council and Police Scotland are committed to tackling any form of hate against those living or working in East Renfrewshire or those visiting the area.

What is a hate crime?

A hate crime is any criminal offence that is motivated by prejudice or hostility towards a person's:

• Age
• Disability
• Race or ethnicity
• Religion or belief
• Sexual orientation
• Transgender identity

It can include verbal abuse, threats, physical attacks, damage to property, or online harassment.

Hate crimes harm individuals and have serious negative consequences for entire communities. They can cause fear, mental health struggles, and trauma, creating mistrust and division between people.

What can we do to help prevent hate crime?

We all have a role to play in tackling hate crime. We should do this by:

• safely and respectfully challenging discriminatory language and behaviour
• celebrating diversity in our community, school, or workplace— inclusion reduces the space for hate to grow in East Renfrewshire.
• educating ourselves and others about what hate crime is and why it matters

How can I report a hate crime?

If you experience or witness an incident that you perceive to be motivated by prejudice, we strongly encourage you to report it to the police. You can report a hate crime:

• by phoning 999 (emergency) 101 (non-emergency)
• in person at any police station
• by completing a Hate Crime Reporting Form
• Text 999 (this is for registered users only)
• Contact Police Scotland-BSL

You can also report a hate crime at a Third Party Reporting Centre.

Sometimes victims or witnesses of hate crime don't feel comfortable reporting the incident to the police. They might be more comfortable reporting it to someone they know. Police Scotland works in partnership with a number of organisations and groups, to take reports, known as third party reporting centres. Third party reporting centres could be housing associations, victim support offices and voluntary groups. Staff have been trained to recognise hate crimes and help a victim or witness to submit a report to the police. Third party reports can be made without giving your name. However, that might affect how much investigation the police can do.

What support is available for victims of hate crime?

Victim Support Scotland offers free, independent, and confidential support to people affected by crime across Scotland, including victims, witnesses, and their families.

Free support helpline: 0800 160 1985
(8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday,  9am to 1pm Saturday)

Visit the Victim Support Scotland website.