Barriers to reporting hate crime: A Welsh perspective
| Author | Brian Blakemore,Gareth J Cuerden |
| Published date | 01 September 2020 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X19855113 |
| Date | 01 September 2020 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Article
Barriers to reporting
hate crime: A Welsh
perspective
Gareth J Cuerden and Brian Blakemore DOS
International Centre for Policing and Security, University of South Wales,
Wales, UK
Abstract
This study gathered197 participants, interviewed within 48 hours of being victims of Hate
Crime. This immediate follow-up shouldensure accurate responses. The responses of the
victims were compared to that of 113 Welsh front-line staff who respond to andsupport
such victims. The barriers to reporting are foundto be broadly similar with the findings of
other UK studies. A considerable difference in understanding of the barriers to reporting
hate crime wasfound between the victims andsupport services. The main reasongiven for
non-reporting was common: the poor service, attitude and treatment from the police.
Keywords
Barriers to reporting, victim perspective, provider’s perspective, Wales
Introduction
This article will compare the findings of a study in Wales using Victim Support data with
others from across the UK and will attempt to compare and contrast the findings,
specifically looking at barriers to reporting identified by both victims of Hate Crime
and frontline service providers across Wales. Service providers contributing to the
research are from local authorities, the NHS, the police, housing associations, the proba-
tion service, the Crown Prosecution Service and third-sector organisations such as race
equality councils, Citizens Advice and voluntary groups. This comparison will be con-
textualised within the regional and national policies adopte d to prevent and support
victims of hate crime and the Seven Key Decision Points in recognising and reporting
Corresponding author:
Brian Blakemore DOS, International Centre for Policing and Security, University of South Wales, Pontypridd
CF37 1DL, Wales, UK.
Email: brian.blakemore@southwales.ac.uk
The Police Journal:
Theory, Practice and Principles
2020, Vol. 93(3) 183–201
ªThe Author(s) 2019
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/0032258X19855113
journals.sagepub.com/home/pjx
hate crime, established by McDevitt et al. (2000). Hate Crime, Hate Incident, Bias Crime
and Prejudicial Discrimination are all phrases associated with the classification of acts
that target a victim for an aspect of their identity. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
in England and Wales (2018) have outlined that race, religion, sexual orientation, gender
identity and disability are the protected characteristics for hate crime. There are two main
aspects required in the legislation: first, that the act was a criminal offence, regardless of
the motivation of the offender; second, that the act must have in part been committed and
motivated out of prejudice towards the victim as a result of their protected characteristic.
However, the hostility expressed by the perpetrator can be in many forms and the CPS
and courts do not define this but ‘use the everyday understanding of the word which
includes ill-will, spite, contempt, prejudice, unfriendliness, antagonism, resentment and
dislike’ (CPS, 2018: 1). Thus the total definition of such an act is complex, subjective
and potentially confusing, including establishing if the incident is a crime or not in its
own right without the perceived hate elements.
The Welsh context
The Welsh Government established a Framework for Action to eliminate hostility and
prejudice and to focus on early prevention to stop incidents escalating into crimes. This is
supported by three strategies, prevention, supporting victims and improving multi-
agency response, each with specific deliverables such as tackling hate-related bullying
and promoting respect and delivering training and awareness in service delivery, for
example specifying teacher education within this area within Wales and improving
reporting rates (Welsh Government, 2018). As will be seen throughout this article the
need for a fuller awareness by both victims and within the support services is crucial. The
Welsh Government also works with the UK Government’s action plan Challenge It,
Report It, Stop It! in non-devolved areas (Welsh Government, 2018). Following both
national policy and the Welsh focus on multiagency working, third-party reporting
schemes are used. Online systems are in place to report hate crime, that are heavily
promoted by lobbying, and community interest groups through the internet and social
media, such as Tell Mama, Stonewall, Stop Hate UK, Victim Support, in addition to the
Home Office scheme True Vision and in Wales Victim Support Cymru.
The indicator most utilised for understanding rates of hate crime are the incidents
reported to the police, who then refer them on to various other agencies for information
and action. The situation within Wales is that victims of hate crime can report the
occurrences directly to the police primarily using the 101 or 999 telephone numbers
or other methods. Victims have the option of submitting a report online directly to the
police through ‘True Vision’, the England and Wales third-party reporting website.
Victims may also report directly to Victim Support Cymru, commissioned by the Welsh
Government to support victims of hate within Wales and comprise the National Hate
Crime Report and Support Centre Wales. The recording system in use in Wales means
that when an incident is reported to the police, victim crime data is transferred automat-
ically from the four Welsh police services using a data sharing ag reement which is
confidential, and involves anonymised data being analysed by the Welsh National Hate
Crime Report and Support Centre.
184 The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles 93(3)
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