1 Overview
A hate incident is any behaviour you believe is motivated by hostility or prejudice towards:
- someone’s race
- religion
- sexual orientation
- disability
- gender identity
You don’t need evidence for something to be treated as a hate incident and you don’t have to decide if it’s a crime. What matters is the perception for the reason behind the incident, whether from the victim, a witness, or third party.
Hate incidents and crimes can happen in many ways and often cause serious distress. Always report them so the victim can get support and agencies can work together to prevent them from happening again.
When someone reports a hate crime or hate incident using our online form, it is sent to the Hate Incident Support Service (HISS) which is delivered by Victim Support Sussex. Specialist caseworkers then review the report and can provide tailored 1-1 support, including:
- trauma-informed listening and validation to help victims cope with the impact of hate incidents
- practical advice, such as safety planning or help with community concerns
- information on your rights and next steps
- support for both victims and witnesses
- coordination with partner agencies
- assistance to anyone who believes they, or someone else, has experienced hate, regardless of immigration status, even if the victim does not want to report it to the police
- support at any stage, either straight after the incident or later on
People often choose this route when:
- they don’t want to report to the police
- they’re unsure whether the incident is a crime
- they want to remain anonymous
- they want someone to be aware of the situation in case it escalates
- they need support without entering the criminal justice system
Best practice guidance tells us that victims should be presented with a third-party reporting option to remove barriers to support when victims may not feel comfortable reporting to the police. HISS provides a trusted, independent route for reporting and support.
2 Report an incident
When you make a report:
- you can complete it as a victim, a witness or someone reporting on behalf of someone else
- there is no age limit, but if you are under 16, or reporting for someone under 16, the Hate Incident Support Service (HISS) needs a parent’s or guardian’s contact details to get consent before contacting the victim
- you do not have to give your name, but if you want HISS to contact you, you must provide an email address or phone number
- you do not need to complete all the information on the form, as any details you can give may help
If you want to report something to the police, call 101 or use their online reporting form (opens in a new tab). In an emergency, always call 999.
If you are a school reporting an incident, be aware of our guidance to responding to hate incidents and crimes.
Report a hate crime online (external link) Community tension reporting form (external link)An easy-read version of the form is available below in order for you to report any hate incident.
3 What happens next
We will not give your personal details to anyone, including the police or other organisations, without asking you first. However, if there is a safeguarding issue, or in the event of a serious crime or risk of crime, we may need to tell someone.
If you report an incident we record it only for statistical reasons.
If you want help to take further action, Victim Support Sussex will contact you to find out more.
Where legal action is taken as a result of the incident you may be asked to give evidence.