Hate crime and harassment

Hate crime is any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, as being motivated by prejudice or hate. A hate crime may be motivated by race, homophobia, transphobia, faith, sectarian prejudice, or prejudice towards the disabled. A sentence for a hate crime will be more severe than one for a similar crime without a racist motive.

Harassment takes many forms, including violence, threats, abuse, and damage to property. It can involve verbal abuse and name calling, offensive graffiti or post. It may cause physical injury, mental stress, anxiety, or insecurity. It can also occur for a variety of reasons, including sexuality, sex, race, disability, religious belief or age.

Report any case of hate crime or harassment to Ealing Council's Community Safety Team (CST) on (020) 8825 7600 or the police.

Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment may involve physical assault, verbal abuse or threats, damage to property or continual and unwanted sexual advances. It may come from someone you know, a partner or ex-partner, or from a stranger. Report any case of sexual harassment to the CST, who will, with your agreement liaise with the police and other agencies to give you help and support. You can also report it to your housing officer.

Racial harassment
Racial harassment is hostility towards people because of their colour or ethnic origin. It includes all manner of things such as physical assault, verbal abuse and name calling, threats, damage to property, racist graffiti, racist letters or posters. Don't confuse racial harassment with quarrels with neighbours. Report any racial harassment to either the police or the CST as soon as possible. Every effort possible will be taken to take action against perpetrators and ot help victims and witnesses.

Harassment because of religious belief
Our borough is made up of many cultures and faiths. All residents and visitors should feel free to follow the faith they choose without being harassed. Any infringement upon these rights by others will be fully investigated with a view to prosecution.

Harassment of people with AIDS or who are HIV positive
In some cases people have contracted AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) or have been told they are HIV positive (that is, they may develop AIDS or illnesses associated with AIDS at some time). In both cases they are not a health risk to any other person except through direct sexual contact.

Harassment of the elderly
Many of our residents are elderly. They make a valuable contribution to the community. The elderly often live alone and can easily be made to feel insecure.

Harassment of the physically or mentally disabled
People who are disabled have every right to be treated in exactly the same way as all other tenants. Many of these people are classed as 'vulnerable' in housing law and we have a duty to protect their interests.

Harassment of lesbians or gay men
Lesbian and gay people have the same rights to live free from harassment as other tenants. Harassment of lesbian and gay tenants because of their sexuality is not acceptable.

Harassment of those living with you
It is not right and proper for anyone to suffer harassment in your home, so as to either make them leave the property or look for somewhere else to live. If you are violent, or threaten violence, towards your partner and they have to leave the home, we will make every effort to take action against the perpetrators and to support victims. We will encourage any victim of domestic violence to report the matter to the police, and their investigation may lead to prosecution.

Neighbour disagreements
Arguments between neighbours often start from minor issues or disagreements, but then get out of hand by running on for a long time and becoming serious. Report arguments which involve harassment or nuisance to the CST or to your local housing officer. There is a local independent mediation service which may help with day-to-day arguments and disagreements. We can help put you in contact them. Ideally, people on both sides of the dispute must agree to take part in the mediation.

Where to go for support and advice

Some useful websites

Advice, support and counselling services

www.womensaid.org.uk
www.rapecrisis.co.uk

Black Minority Service

www.refugeecouncil.org

Children

www.childline.org.uk
www.nspcc.org.uk
www.bernardos.org.uk
www.gingerbread.org.uk For lone parent families

Lesbian Gay Bisexual and transgender

www.queery.org.uk Advice line
www.tht.org.uk HIV and Aids charity offering support to gay men experiencing domestic violence