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Hate crime

Hate crime strategy and action plan

The Merton hate crime management board have produced a hate crime strategy and action plan (0.1MB)

This strategy has been developed on behalf of the London Borough of Merton and the safer merton partnership, the borough’s crime and disorder reduction partnership (CDRP). It is the first hate crime strategy for the borough, and it aims to put in place a powerful and effective framework for use by local agencies to fight the emergence of hate crime in our community. The strategy sets out our short-term goals.

The key priorities and project areas for the hate crime strategy are:

  • Preventing hate crime
  • Increasing methods and levels of reporting
  • Supporting victims and witnesses
  • Tackling hate crime incidents.

What is hate crime?

Hate crime is any incident, which may or may not constitute a criminal offence, that is perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by a hostility or prejudice based on a persons:

  • Race
  • Religion or belief
  • Gender identity
  • Sexual orientation
  • Disability

Or any other actual or perceived difference.

Hate crime can take many forms including:

  • Name calling
  • Arson/fire
  • Spitting
  • Verbal abuse and harassment
  • Graffiti
  • Attacks or violence
  • Damage to property or belongings (such as your car or home)
  • Threats and intimidation
  • Psychological and emotional violence
  • Abusive telephone calls
  • Offensive literature (such as letters, emails, leaflets and posters)

Race Crime

Racially motivated crime is when you become a victim of crime because of your race or perceived race. This includes black, Asian and ethnic minority communities, new comers and Gypsy and Traveller communities.

Religious crime

This is where you become a victim of hate crime because of your religious belief or perceived religious beliefs. Includes all faith communities and can be based on both religious belief and lack of religious belief.

Homophobic crime

Homophobic crime is when you become a victim of crime because of your sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation. This includes lesbian, gay and bisexual communities.

Transgender crime

Transgender crime is when you become a victim of crime because a person is transgender or perceived to be transgender. This includes people who are transsexual, transgender or transvestite.

Disphobic crime

Disphobic crime is when you become a victim of crime because of your disability or perceived disability. This includes people with physical or mobility impairments, sensory impairments, mental health problems and learning disabilities.

Reporting and investigation services

Why should I report a Hate Crime?

All hate crime is important. No hate crime is too minor to report. By reporting Hate Crime you can help us to help you. There are specially trained colleagues in support agencies and police officers, who you can talk to in confidence and anonymously if you wish. You do not need to suffer in silence.

Many incidents are not reported through fear, or victims feeling that they won’t be believed or that nothing can or will be done about it.

By reporting hate crime you help us to understand and respond to hate crime in the borough. Your report can help us understand where things happen and how they happen, helping us prevent others from becoming victims.

The Community Safety Unit (CSU)

The CSU is responsible for the investigation of Domestic Violence and Hate Crimes within Merton Borough. The unit is staffed with male and female officers specially trained to deal with these matters.

Merton Borough's Community Safety Unit is based at

Wimbledon Police Station
15 Queens Road, London SW19 8NN

Telephone 02086493063,

Mobile 07768035450 (for calls or text messages),

Fax 02086494010 or email CSU

Please note that this is not a 24 hour service. In an emergency please dial 999.

Stop Hate UK are an independent charity who provide emotional and practical support for anyone who has experienced hate crime. You can report hate crime to Stop Hate UK 24 hours a day. Everything you tell them is kept confidential and you have the option to remain anonymous. They can be contacted by phone, email, text, post and online. Stop Hate UK can speak to victims in their preferred language if required

Telephone: 0800 138 1625

Stophateuk website

Email: talk@stophateuk.org

Crimestoppers

Crimestoppers are a national organisation that allows victims or anyone with any information about crime to report it anonymously. You do not have to give your name or any personal information and calls cannot be traced  

You can call Crimestoppers by ringing 0800 555 111 or you can report through the Crimestoppers website

Independent advice and support services

We understand that it is sometimes difficult to go to the police about hate crime. If you are a victim of hate crime or know someone who is, there are various support agencies in place to support and offer guidance.

Victim Support

Victim support has specialist caseworkers that can provide support to help with the problems that you are experiencing. Victim Support offers:

  • Someone to talk to in confidence
  • Support – if you feel that nobody cares
  • Information on other agencies
  • Help if you need to claim Criminal Injuries Compensation
  • Information on police and court procedures
  • Support when attending court via their Witness Service.

Telephone: 020 8685 1637

Homophobic and Transphobic Crime

Galop - London's lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans safety charity. It provides advice, advocacy, support and reporting of hate crime, domestic abuse, sexual violence and problems with the police

Galop website
Telephone 020 7704 2040

Disphobic Crime

A national charity supporting people with learning disabilities and other vulnerable people who have experienced crime or abuse

VOICE UK website
Telephon 080 880 28686

Race Crime

Supporting victims of race-hate crime

The monitoring group website
Helpline: 0800 374 618

MASCOT (MASCOT website)

See also

Safer Merton

Contact us

Safer Merton
Merton Council
Civic Centre
London Road
Morden
SM4 5DX

Telephone: 020 8545 4146
Email: safer.merton@merton.gov.uk

This page was last updated on Friday 27 January 2012