What is a Hate Crime... and How You Can Report It

13/10/2025

stop hate signage for hate crime awareness week

This week is National Hate Crime Awareness Week — a time to raise awareness, support victims, and take a stand against prejudice and discrimination in all its forms.

At Manchester City Council Housing Services, we believe everyone deserves to live safely and confidently in their home and community — free from fear, hostility, or hate.

Unfortunately, not everyone experiences that safety. Hate crime remains a real issue across the UK, and it often goes unreported.

Here’s what hate crime means — and how you can report it if you’re affected or witness it.

What Is Hate Crime?

A hate crime is any criminal offence that is perceived by the victim — or anyone else — to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards a person because of who they are (or who someone thinks they are).

In England and Wales, hate crime can be based on one or more of the following protected characteristics:

Disability
Race or ethnicity
Religion or belief
Sexual orientation
Transgender identity
Alternative sub-culture (such as goth, punk, or emo)

Hate crimes can include verbal abuse, threats, harassment, assault, damage to property, or offensive online messages.

Even if the behaviour doesn’t meet the legal threshold of a crime, it can still be recorded as a hate incident, and the police will take it seriously.

Why Reporting Matters

Hate crime harms not just individuals, but whole communities. Reporting helps:

Ensure victims get the support they need
Prevent further offences
Build a picture of what’s happening locally
Send a clear message that hate has no place in Manchester

You don’t have to suffer in silence — and you don’t have to deal with it alone.

How to Report Hate Crime

There are several ways you can report hate crime or hate incidents:

In an emergency

If you’re in immediate danger or a crime is happening right now — call 999.

Police (non-emergency)

For non-emergency situations, you can call 101 or report online via the Greater Manchester Police website.

If you believe an incident was motivated by hate, tell the police — they will record it as a hate crime or hate incident.

Online via True Vision

You can report hate crime online at report-it.org.uk

This is the national hate crime reporting website, run by the Home Office. You can choose to report anonymously if you prefer.

Report it to us

If you’re a Manchester City Council Housing Services tenant or live in one of our neighbourhoods, you can report incidents to your local housing office or neighbourhood officer.

We’ll make sure your report is passed to the right agency and that you’re offered appropriate support.

Find out more on our website:

Reporting Hate Crime

Third-party reporting centres

If you don’t feel comfortable going directly to the police, you can also report through a third-party reporting centre — these are community organisations that can help you make a report and get support.