A hate crime is any crime where the victim’s disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity is the motivation behind a crime.
Some examples of homophobic, biphobic and transphobic hate crime include:
Some people may be a victim of hate crime because of illness or disability, which includes HIV status.
Unfortunately, many people experience hate crime associated with their sexual orientation or gender identity. If you experience this, remember you are protected by the law in Scotland.
If you have experienced a hate crime you might be nervous about reporting it directly to the police. We can support you to access remote reporting which allows you to report crimes to the police anonymously, or be with you should you need to give information or make a statement.
If you’re concerned about hate crime, or have been a victim, and want to talk about it confidentially, you can contact SX for advice and support.
You can report hate crime in the following ways:
Over the phone: