Hate Crime and Harassment

As part of the safe city partnership's community safety strategy (2005-2008), a strategy against hate crime and harassment strategy has been developed.

What is hate crime and harassment?
A crime or harassment, which is perceived to be motivated by malice, or ill will, towards a social group, by the ‘victim’ or any other person.

Factors can include:
• Race
• Faith
• Disability
• Sexual orientation
• Gender identity
• Gender
• Age

You can find out more about the factors listed above by clicking on the links in the right hand column.

You can report an incident whether you are the victim or a witness. This report can be anonymous.

Forms of harassment can be broadly broken down into 4 categories:

• Visual – for example, leaflets, posters and text messages

• Verbal – such as abuse and intimidation

• Property – for example, graffiti and damage

• Physical – for example, hitting and assaults

We take Hate crime and harassment very seriously and encourage people to report all incidents. There is a great deal of legislation that highlights how important addressing hate crime and harassment is – you can find more by clicking on the link in the right hand column.

You can find out more about hate crime and harassment on our fact sheet – link available in the right hand column.

Where can I report hate crime and harassment?
First of all consider the safety of you and the victim. If either of you are in danger, call the police immediately on 999.

For less urgent cases you can visit any police station or call 0845 045 45 45 or Southern crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Crimes should always be reported to the police.

The Stronger communities and equalities team collects details of all hate crime and harassment incidents for the council.

You can report an incident directly to them in the following ways:

• Calling the Hate crime phone number: 023 8083 4114

• Filling in an online reporting form - link available on the right hand side

• Downloading the reporting form - link available on the right hand side

• Emailing the team at: hate.crime@southampton.gov.uk

• Sending them details in the post to:
  Hate crime project worker
  Stronger communities and equalities team
  Civic Centre
  Southampton
  SO14 7LY

In addition, all Southampton City Council offices - including local housing offices, libraries, leisure centres and sure start centres - can take a report from you.

Age hate crime and harassment

Age hate crime and harassment is any incident which is perceived by the victim, or any other person, to be motivated on the grounds of their age. Click on this link for more information about age hate crime or click on the link near the top of the right hand column of this page.

Disability Hate Crime

Disability hate crime is when someone is being abused or harassed because they are disabled. Click on this link for more information about disability hate crime or click on the link near the top of the right hand column of this page.

Gender Hate Crime

Gender Hate Crime is defined as being a crime which has been motivated only by the victim’s gender, or perceived gender. The victim is abused primarily because of their gender and not because of a prior relationship – as is the case in Domestic Violence.

Homophobic and transphobic harassment

Southampton City Council has adopted the following definition –
‘Homophobia and transphobia is fear or hatred for anyone who is, or appears to be, lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. A homophobic or transphobic incident is any incident that is perceived to be homophobic or transphobic by the victim or any other person’
– Southampton Hidden Targets Multi-Agency Group, June 2002

Racial and religious harassment

Southampton City Council has formally adopted the definition - agreed in the report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence:
"A racist incident is any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person" (MacPherson 1999).