About Hate Crime
What is Hate Crime?
A hate crime is a criminal offence that is motivated by hostility or prejudice towards a person’s actual or perceived identity, or where the offender demonstrates hostility towards the person based on that identity.
The police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) use five monitored strands to identify and record hate crime:
- Race
- Religion
- Disability
- Sexual orientation
- Transgender identity
A person can experience hate crime because of a characteristic they are perceived to have, even if that perception is mistaken. Someone can also be targeted because of their association with a person or group.
For example, someone may be targeted by racist abuse because they are perceived to belong to a particular ethnic group, or because they are supporting someone from that group.
Hate crime can affect anyone. You do not have to belong to the group being targeted to experience or witness hostility directed towards that group.
Stop Hate UK supports people affected by hate, hostility and discrimination. Our work extends beyond the five centrally monitored strands to address other forms of identity-based hostility and support safer, more inclusive communities.
Hate should never be tolerated. Everyone has the right to be themselves. Stop Hate UK is here to support, listen and tackle Hate in all forms.
Home Office, Hate crime, England and Wales, 2025 to 2026In the year ending 2026, 146,825 hate crimes were recorded by the police in England and Wales, an increase of 7% compared with 137,560 offences recorded in the previous year.
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Difference between Hate Crime and Hate Incident
A hate crime is a criminal offence that meets the relevant hate crime criteria. Under the police and CPS definition, an offence can be identified as a hate crime where the victim or another person perceives it to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a monitored characteristic. An offence may also be treated as a hate crime where the offender demonstrates hostility based on a monitored characteristic.
A hate incident is an incident perceived by the person affected, or another person, to involve hostility or prejudice based on a person’s identity or perceived identity. A hate incident does not necessarily amount to a criminal offence.
Some incidents may be distressing or discriminatory without meeting the legal threshold for a crime. Other behaviour, particularly when repeated, may form part of a pattern that could amount to an offence, such as harassment or stalking.
Reporting incidents can help people seek support and can help establish a pattern of behaviour. However, not every incident will lead to a criminal investigation or prosecution.
Stop Hate UK takes reports of hate and identity-based hostility seriously. We can listen to people affected, provide information and support, and help them consider their options.
Examples of Hate Crime
Any criminal offence can be a hate crime if it was carried out because of hostility or prejudice based on disability, race, religion, transgender identity, or sexual orientation:
- Physical assault or threats of violence.
- Criminal damage to property.
- Harassment or stalking.
- Theft, burglary or other criminal offences.
- Certain threatening or abusive communications.
- Certain public order offences.
- Certain offences involving the stirring up of racial or religious hatred, or hatred on grounds of sexual orientation
These examples are not an exhaustive list.
Hate, prejudice and discrimination can cause significant harm to individuals and communities. Abuse, harassment and other forms of identity-based hostility should be taken seriously, whether they occur online or offline.
Some incidents may constitute criminal offences, while others may require different forms of support or action. Anyone affected by hate can seek advice and support, regardless of whether an incident meets the legal threshold for a criminal offence.
Sentencing for Hate Crime
Hate crime is not simply about an offence committed against an individual. It can also communicate hostility towards an entire community, undermine people’s sense of safety and belonging, and reinforce prejudice and discrimination.
The law recognises the seriousness of this harm. Where an offence is motivated by, or demonstrates, hostility based on certain characteristics, that hostility can be taken into account when the offender is sentenced.
The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 provides for specific racially or religiously aggravated offences, including certain forms of assault, criminal damage, public order offences and harassment.
Section 66 of the Sentencing Act 2020 provides for hostility-based aggravating factors in sentencing for relevant offences. These include hostility based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation and transgender identity, subject to the applicable legal requirements.
Where the relevant statutory criteria are established, the court must treat the hostility as an aggravating factor when sentencing and state in open court that the offence was aggravated by hostility.
These provisions recognise that hate-motivated offending can cause harm beyond its immediate victim. It can intimidate others who share the targeted characteristic, deepen community divisions and undermine the principle that everyone deserves equal dignity, safety and respect.
Stop Hate UK works to challenge hate, support people affected by it and promote communities in which everyone can participate safely and equally.
Laws on Hate Crimes in the UK
Several laws are relevant to hate crime and related conduct in England and Wales.
Crime and Disorder Act 1998
Sections 28-32 provide for specific racially or religiously aggravated offences. These provisions apply to the offences and circumstances set out in the legislation.
Sentencing Act 2020
Section 66 sets out hostility-based aggravating factors for sentencing relevant criminal offences. It replaced the corresponding provisions in sections 145 and 146 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
Public Order Act 1986
The Public Order Act 1986 contains public order offences and specific offences relating to stirring up racial hatred, religious hatred and hatred on grounds of sexual orientation. Different offences have different legal requirements.
Not all offensive or prejudiced speech meets the legal threshold for these offences.
Equality Act 2010
The Equality Act 2010 provides protection against discrimination, harassment and victimisation in specified circumstances. It identifies nine protected characteristics:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
The Equality Act 2010 provides the UK with a discrimination law that protects individuals from unfair treatment and promotes a fair and more equal society.
The Act plays an important role in challenging unfair treatment, addressing inequality and supporting a society in which everyone can participate, access opportunities and be treated with dignity and respect.
Equality is not simply about preventing unlawful discrimination. It is also about building communities where people are valued, barriers are challenged and everyone has the opportunity to live free from prejudice and exclusion.
For further information about hate crime law and prosecution guidance, visit the Crown Prosecution Service’s hate crime guidance.
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