Hate crime
Case studies
We interviewed victims to get an idea of the different experiences of hate crime. All quotes are anonymous.
Examples of hate crime
“A gang of kids started walking behind me and my girlfriend…they started to throw stones at us. Then they started to call us queers…”
“Some lads were standing on a street corner, drinking beer. They started verbally abusing me because of the colour of my skin…then they kicked and punched me…”
How did it make you feel?
“I was very angry”
“Shocked and annoyed”
“It felt like a nightmare”
“Insignificant”
“Worried about the future”
“My life felt in pieces”
“Scared”
“I was indignant…how do they have the right?”
“I wasn’t sure what to do”
Reporting it to the police
“ I was scared of repercussions...I didn’t want to be seen as a grass (someone who informs the police).”
“I didn’t know how to report it…where to go or what to do…I wasn’t even sure if the police would take me seriously.”
“I felt embarrassed and didn’t want to speak to anyone to start with…so I used the online reporting system.”
What happened after it was reported?
“Two officers visited me at my home…one was openly gay – which made me feel better. It made me feel like my issue was being taken seriously.”
“An officer came over to visit me repeatedly…just to make sure I was OK and that I didn’t feel threatened.”
“I was just glad to record it on the system.”
Examples of hate crime
“A gang of kids started walking behind me and my girlfriend…they started to throw stones at us. Then they started to call us queers…”
“Some lads were standing on a street corner, drinking beer. They started verbally abusing me because of the colour of my skin…then they kicked and punched me…”
How did it make you feel?
“I was very angry”
“Shocked and annoyed”
“It felt like a nightmare”
“Insignificant”
“Worried about the future”
“My life felt in pieces”
“Scared”
“I was indignant…how do they have the right?”
“I wasn’t sure what to do”
Reporting it to the police
“ I was scared of repercussions...I didn’t want to be seen as a grass (someone who informs the police).”
“I didn’t know how to report it…where to go or what to do…I wasn’t even sure if the police would take me seriously.”
“I felt embarrassed and didn’t want to speak to anyone to start with…so I used the online reporting system.”
What happened after it was reported?
“Two officers visited me at my home…one was openly gay – which made me feel better. It made me feel like my issue was being taken seriously.”
“An officer came over to visit me repeatedly…just to make sure I was OK and that I didn’t feel threatened.”
“I was just glad to record it on the system.”
