Discriminatory Abuse

This includes forms of harassment, ill-treatment, threats or insults because of a person’s race, age, culture, gender, gender identity, religion, sexuality, physical or learning disability, or mental-health needs.

Possible signs and indicators of discriminatory abuse include:

• The person appearing withdrawn and isolated
• Expressions of anger, frustration, fear or anxiety
• Lack of respect shown to an individual
• Signs of a sub-standard service being offered to a person
• Repeated exclusion from rights afforded to citizens such as health, education, employment

Discriminatory abuse can also be called ‘hate crime’.  Hate crime is the targeting of individuals, groups and communities because of who they are.  It is any incident which is a criminal offence and which is thought, by you or someone else, to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice based on race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, gender, gender identity, disability, age, sexual orientation or any other actual or seeming difference.

This can include:

• Threats, bullying or intimidation
• Threatening or offensive mail, texts or emails
• Verbal abuse
• Damage to property
• Physical assaults

It is important to report all hate incidents, even if you think nothing can be done as it helps the police and other agencies identify areas of concern, patterns of behaviour and what is happening in our communities. Hate crimes are not only crimes against the targeted victim, but also against a particular group as a whole.