RED Network

Hate crime / hate speech

is any criminal offence where the balance of evidence suggests that the victim has been targeted because of their race/ethnicity, religion/belief, nationality, gender/gender identity, disability, age, sexual orientation or any other actual or perceived (immutable) difference.

Hate incidents are incidents that do not necessarily constitute a criminal offence but cause alarm, distress or harassment where the balance of available evidence suggests that the victim has been targeted because of their race/ethnicity, religion/belief, gender/gender identity, nationality, disability, age, sexual orientation or any other actual or perceived (immutable) difference.

Hate crimes and incidents can also be directed at whole communities – for example desecration of graveyards, vandalism of places of worship, offensive graffiti in public places, or acts of terrorism.

Hate crime can include verbal abuse, threatening behaviour, offensive graffiti, harassment, malicious communications, damage to property and violence. This includes incidents committed on the grounds of:

• ·                     Race / skin color
• ·                     Ethnic identity/origin
• ·                     Nationality or immigration status
• ·                     Religion/belief
• ·                     Gender or gender identity
• ·                     Sexual orientation
• ·                     Age
• ·                     Disability
• ·                     Social position

(in grey shade: not covered by the RED project)

Hate speech can be seen as a particularly serious form of hate crime. 

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