What is a Hate Crime or Hate Incident?
If you've ever been abused, assaulted or intimidated because of who you are, you may have been the victim of a hate crime or hate incident.
If you've ever been abused, assaulted or intimidated because of who you are, you may have been the victim of a hate crime or hate incident.
A hate crime is when someone commits a crime against you because of your:
- Disability
- Gender Identity
- Race
- Sexual Orientation
- Religion
- or any other perceived difference.
If someone does something that isn’t a criminal offence but you believe it was motivated by prejudice or hostility, this is a ‘hate incident’. Though what the perpetrator has done may not be against the law, their reasons for doing it are.
Hate incidents such as being called an abusive name or sent an offensive message online can be just as serious and upsetting as hate crimes and, as a University, we will take these seriously.
Immediate and Ongoing Support
If you are on campus, or in a University building and would like support, please contact our Security Service on 0116 252 2888 who are available all day, every day. If you are in need of urgent NHS Mental Health Support you should call the 24-hour Central Access Point on 0116 295 3060. If it’s a life-threatening emergency or you need immediate help please call 999.
Students and staff can disclose an incident using the University’s Report and Support system. You can choose to do this anonymously or you can leave your email address to seek further support from Student Support.
Internal Support
Student Support Services (University):
- Standing Together team: can offer practical support and guidance in relation to unacceptable behaviours. Our work involves supporting students on a 1:1 basis, and providing holistic support options and referrals, where relevant. After an initial needs and risk assessment, we can provide students with options in relation to reporting and support – including those detailed above and below. We can also support students in accessing services and coordinating this. In order to access this support, please leave your contact email address when completing the online disclosure form. For more information, please visit the campaigns tab of this system.
- Counselling and Wellbeing team: Click here.
- Self Referral form for On-campus Counselling: Click here.
- AccessAbility team: Click here.
- Welfare team: Click here.
(particularly for financial concerns, support for underrepresented groups, and general advice and signposting)
For more information about University and Students’ Union support, please see: www.le.ac.uk/wellbeing
External Support
- Victim First are an independent and confidential service that support victims through their journey of recovery. They can support you coping with the after effects of crime and help with reporting to the police.
- Galop provides emotional and practical support for LGBT+ people. They are able to give independent advice to those who have experienced violence, threats, intimidation and/or insults due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Call 0800 999 5428 10am-5pm, Monday to Friday (open until 8pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays).
- Stamp It Out is a project bringing together different partners and organisations who are all committed to challenging, tackling and stamping out hate within Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and working together to encourage the reporting of hate crime and incidents.
- The Black, African and Asian Therapy Network: https://www.baatn.org.uk/free-services
- A self-care guide for those impacted by racism
- Qwell- Online support service offering online support as well as 1-1 chat based counselling with a qualified counsellor. Counsellors are available from 12noon to 10pm on weekdays and 6pm to 10pm at weekends, every day of the year on a drop in basis. No referral is required- please visit their website to register.
- Togetherall- a free online mental health support community, available 24/7. Access a variety of courses and resources to help manage mental health. The platform is ran by trained professionals and allows users to share anonymously and receive support from others. No referral required- please visit their website to register.
For more information about hate crime, please visit the Leicestershire police advice and information webpage.
For further information about other reporting and support options, please visit the need help pages on our website.
Free training available to all here: http://www.centreforhatestudies.com