This week is National Hate Crime Awareness Week. It’s an opportunity to raise awareness of what hate crime is, and how to get support if you experience it.

What is hate crime?

Hate incidents and hate crime are acts of violence or hostility against a person or property that is motivated by hostility or prejudice towards a person due to a particular characteristic.

This could be because of:

• a disability
• race or ethnicity
• religion or belief
• sexual orientation
• transgender identity
• an alternative sub-culture

Basically, it’s when a person is treated with hate just for who they are.

A victim does not have to be a member of the group at which the hostility is targeted. In fact, anyone could be a victim of a hate crime; for example, if someone shouts homophobic abuse at you, you are still the victim of homophobic hate, whatever your sexual orientation.

At Sussex

Here at Sussex none of our students should have to live with the anxiety and fear that hate crime can cause.

'Hate incidents' and 'hate crimes' are terms used to describe acts of violence or hostility directed at people because of who they are or who someone thinks they are.  They are motivated by hostility or prejudice based on disability, race, religion, transgender identity, or sexual orientation. This can be an incident against a person or against property and includes materials posted online.

A national anti-hate crime campaign, #BetterThanThat, has been backed by the government and has been launched in response to the rise in incidents after the EU referendum. The campaign is open to all organisations willing to support the fight against hate crime. 

Our Student Services teams have been trained to respond to and support students who experience this kind of harassment and you may want to download the Self-evident app which allows the recording and collection of evidence in such circumstances.

Any student experiencing any bullying, harassment or violence should report this to our Student Life Centre where they will be given expert support.

Further support

You can find information about support following hate crime on our Student Wellbeing web pages.

There is also some useful information on the Sussex Police website.

More information

Find out more on the National Hate Crime Awareness Week website.

You can follow National Hate Crime Awareness Week using the hashtags #WeStandTogether #NoPlaceForHate #SafePlaceForAll #NHCAW