Policing hate crime in London and New York City
| DOI | 10.1177/0269758011422477 |
| Date | 01 January 2012 |
| Author | Nathan Hall |
| Published date | 01 January 2012 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Article
Policing hate crime in
London and New York City:
Some reflections on the
factors influencing effective
law enforcement, service
provision and public trust
and confidence
Nathan Hall
University of Portsmouth, UK
Abstract
The discussion contained within this article is derived from empirical research that explored the
policing of hate crime in London and New York City. Through an examination of a range of
policies, practices and experiences of those involved in the policing of hate crime, the article argues
that this aspect of law enforcement and service provision is shaped by a complex relationship
between a number of interdependent variables, which it is suggested can be broadly grouped into
four categories: law, the police, the public and social context. The underlying message is that hate
crime in particular is a social construct over which the police and public (most notably victims)
have differing degrees of control, and that in turn this will inevitably impact upon the extent and
nature of the hate crime ‘problem’, the way in which the ‘problem’ is responded to, and the
effectiveness of these responses. In turn these inevitably have important implications for victims
and communities and their experiences and perceptions of police service provision, and the wider
social context in which the policing of hate crime takes place.
Keywords
confidence, hate crime, policing, public, service provision, social context
Corresponding author:
Nathan Hall, Senior Lecturer, Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, University of Portsmouth, Museum Road, Portsmouth
PO1 2QQ, UK
Email: nathan.hall@port.ac.uk
International Review of Victimology
18(1) 73–87
ªThe Author(s) 2011
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DOI: 10.1177/0269758011422477
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