Hate Crime Awareness Week

This week, 11 to 18 October is Hate Crime Awareness Week.

A hate crime occurs when an individual displays behaviours motivated by hostility in relation to an individual’s actual or perceived Race, Religion or Belief, Transgender Identity, Sexual Orientation or Disability. A hate crime will most commonly be carried out through verbal abuse, physical attacks, making individuals the subjects of graffiti or by damaging an individual’s property. A hate crime is a criminal offence.

Individuals may also experience a prejudice incident. A prejudice incident consists of any behaviour which unfairly discriminates someone because of their actual or perceived Race, Religion or Belief, Transgender Identity, Sexual Orientation or Disability. It is important that any prejudice incidents are reported so they don’t escalate to hate crime. Forms are confidential and individuals can request a case conference to resolve a prejudice incident through partnership with Police Scotland and Aberdeenshire Council if they wish to take the matter further.

Aberdeenshire Council is committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for its employees and residents. Hate Crime and prejudice incidents are unacceptable and everyone has the right to live safely and without fear. We can help put an end to hate crime and prejudice incidents by reporting them whenever we experience them or whenever we witness them.

You can report hate crimes or prejudice incidents in the following ways:

1)Filling in a Prejudice Incident Reporting Form (PIRF)

available on Arcadia or by submitting a Hate Crime Form

available on the Police Scotland website.

2)Contact the police (by calling 999 in an emergency or calling 101 for non-emergencies)

3)In person at any police station

For more information in relation to prejudice incident reporting, please contact the Equalities Officer.