Understanding difference: the police’s initial response to hate crime.
This report, by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, sets out findings and makes recommendations aimed at improving policing practice and the service to victims.
DR UK ambassador and Disabled Passenger Champion, Stephen Brookes, who was formerly head of the Disability Hate Crime Network said:
“The latest report says exactly what I have pointed out for the last 6 or so years relating to the massive and unacceptable inconsistency of hate crime recording and action across police forces. It needs sorting out.”
The inspection found many examples of good practice from both individual police officers and staff as well as positive practice in the approach of most of the forces visited, which the Inspectorate think should be adopted more widely.
However, they also found that some forces:
- incorrectly flagged hate incidents and crimes
- did not gather comprehensive data about hate crime victims
- did not gather sufficient intelligence about hate crime
- did not always provide adequate information to hate crime victims
- did not consistently refer hate crime victims to support services
The report identified that a consistent level of training needs to be in place, to support police officers and staff and enable them to respond appropriately to victims.
Note: In 2018, the Inspectorate also worked with Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate on a joint inspection of disability hate crime. The report will be published later this year.
