Supporting victims of crime. Helping people deal with crime.

Victim support service - Support for violent crime victims

Crime support was aimed at improving the service the police provide to minority communities.  23 different police forces have joined together to provide you with a single self-reporting and information pack together with an on-line facility that allows you to report hate crime directly to the police. The packs are available in all police stations signed up to crime support ; they have also been distributed to a variety of pubs, clubs libraries and health groups.

They contain a variety of information that we hope will support you, should you have been a victim or witness to a hate crime or should you be seeking information on crime figures behalf of someone else. Each police force has a different local sheet in their packs i.e. Staffordshire has a different sheet to South Yorkshire or Hampshire. There are 23 different local sheets that can all be viewed on this web site.
A homophobic incident is defined as: 'Any incident which is perceived to be Homophobic by the victim or any other person'.

WHAT IS HATE CRIME? 
Hate crime is any offence committed against a person or property which is motivated by the offender's hatred of people because they are seen as being different.  You don't have to be from a minority community to be a victim of hate crime.  Hate crime hurts, it can be confusing and frightening. By reporting it, you may be able to prevent these crimes from happening to someone else.  Reporting makes a difference... to you, your friends, your life.

LCAN The Law Careers Advice Network About

HOW CAN I REPORT AND INCIDENT? 

There are a number of ways you can report 'hate crime':

phone the police There are specially trained police officers in your area, who can speak to you in confidence.self reporting Use the form contained within this pack, to report an incident. You do not have to give your personal details.

internet reporting Some police forces allow you to report 'hate crime' on-line, check out your local police website.

incident reporting centres Many local agencies have trained members who will help you complete a self-reporting form. They can also report the incident on your behalf and provide you with advice and support.

WHAT CAN I REPORT?

Any incident where you or anyone else has been targeted because they or you are believed to be different:

Race  religion sexuality  gender identity or have a disability

Domestic abuse involving anyone which you have a close relationship with; e.g. your current or previous partner.