In England and Wales, a hate crime is a crime motivated by hostility or prejudice towards someone’s race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity. Police record it as a hate crime if you, or anyone else, believe it was. Report it on 999 in an emergency, otherwise on 101, online through police.uk or through True Vision. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own laws and reporting routes.
Updated 19 October 2026 · Sources: GOV.UK, CPS, legislation.gov.uk, Home Office hate crime statistics (8 Oct 2026), mygov.scot, nidirect, True Vision, Victim Support · Next review: January 2027
If a hate crime is happening now or someone is in immediate danger, call 999. If you can’t speak, stay on the line and press 55 on a mobile when asked (see how a silent 999 call works). Move away from the person if you can, and don’t confront them.
What counts as a hate crime?
Any crime can be a hate crime if it is targeted at someone because of a protected characteristic. GOV.UK lists five in England and Wales: race, religion or belief, disability, sexual orientation and transgender identity. Typical examples are threats, assault, robbery, damage to property, harassment, online abuse and encouraging others to commit hate crimes.
Examples from GOV.UK, checked 19 October 2026. Ongoing abuse may also be harassment under the law, and street comments are covered in our guide to catcalling and street harassment.
How do I report a hate crime?
Call 999 if it is happening now or someone is in danger. Otherwise, in England and Wales, call 101, report online through your police force on police.uk, or use the True Vision reporting site. Tell the police you think it was motivated by hate: the CPS says it is flagged as a hate crime if the victim or anyone else perceives it that way. Report a hate crime on GOV.UK.
1. Get safe
2. Write it down
3. Keep evidence
4. Report it
5. Get support
Not sure whether to call 999 or 101? See 999 or 101: how to report a crime. For every other kind of crime, our where to report a crime guide lists each official route.
Where should I report it?
It depends on where you live, how urgent it is and whether you want to speak to the police directly. All the routes below lead to the police, who decide whether to investigate. A hate crime can be reported by the victim, a witness or someone acting for the victim.
Routes from GOV.UK, mygov.scot and nidirect, checked 19 October 2026. More on staying anonymous in our Crimestoppers guide.
What does the law do about hate crime?
In England and Wales, hate is mainly dealt with at sentencing. Under section 66 of the Sentencing Act 2020, if an offender showed hostility, or was motivated by hostility, linked to any of the five characteristics, the court must treat that as making the offence more serious and say so in open court. Some offences also have separate “racially or religiously aggravated” versions with higher maximum sentences.
Checked on legislation.gov.uk on 19 October 2026: s66 up to date to 15 October 2026; s145 shown as prospective (not in force).
How common is hate crime?
Police in England and Wales recorded 146,825 hate crimes in the year to March 2026, 7% more than the year before, according to Home Office statistics published on 8 October 2026. Race was the most common motivation. Public order offences made up just over half of all recorded hate crimes.
Police-recorded hate crimes, England and Wales, April 2025 to March 2026 (Home Office). One crime can have more than one motivation, so the bars add up to more than the 146,825 total. Changes in recording practice can affect trends.
Is hate crime law different in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
Yes. Scotland’s Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, in force since 1 April 2024, covers age, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity and variations in sex characteristics, with sex added from 5 April 2027. Northern Ireland’s sentencing law covers race, religion, sexual orientation and disability, and the PSNI also records sectarian and transgender hate.
▲ as in this guide · ▬ similar, different detail · ▼ different law. Checked on legislation.gov.uk, mygov.scot and nidirect on 19 October 2026.
Where can I get support after a hate crime?
You don’t have to cope alone. Support is free and confidential, and in Scotland you can get help whether or not you report.
- England and Wales: Victim Support, 08 08 16 89 111, free, 24/7 (live chat too).
- Scotland: Victim Support Scotland, 0800 160 1985 (see its website for hours).
- Northern Ireland: the Hate Crime Advocacy Service supports victims through a police investigation (hcasni.com).
- LGBT+ adults: Galop’s helpline for victims of abuse and violence, 0800 999 5428 (weekdays, see website for hours).
If the abuse comes from a neighbour or happens near your home, our guide to anti-social behaviour explains what the council and your landlord can do as well.
Frequently asked questions
Not to report it. Police and the CPS flag a crime as a hate crime if the victim or anyone else perceives it to be motivated by hostility or prejudice. For a court to increase the sentence, the prosecution has to show the offender demonstrated hostility or was motivated by it.
Yes. Witnesses, friends and family can report. In Scotland, third-party reporting centres such as some housing associations and victim support offices can help you report or report on your behalf. Witnesses who want to stay anonymous can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Sources
- GOV.UK: report hate crime
- CPS: hate crime
- Sentencing Act 2020, section 66
- Crime and Disorder Act 1998, section 28
- Crime and Policing Act 2026, section 145 (not yet in force)
- Home Office: Hate crime, England and Wales, year ending March 2026
- Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, section 1 and SSI 2026/150 (sex, from 5 April 2027)
- mygov.scot: hate crime
- Criminal Justice (No. 2) (NI) Order 2004, article 2 and nidirect: hate crime
- True Vision: report it
- Victim Support and Galop helpline
General information for the UK, not legal advice. Laws change: check GOV.UK or a solicitor for your situation.
All our legal guides are listed in your rights and the law: every guide in one place.
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Feel less alone on the way home
Safety App UK lets you share your live location with a trusted circle you choose and get Safe Zone alerts when someone arrives or leaves. An SOS by button or shake, or automatically in higher-crime zones, sends your live location and live video to your circle. The live safety map, built from police data and community reports, shows police stations and Ask for Angela venues and helps you plan safer routes. It does not contact the emergency services: in danger, always call 999. Free for 7 days, then £2.99 a month. For ages 16+.