A report said that hate crime in the EU was increasing, despite the 'best efforts' of member states to root it out. Verbal abuse, physical attacks, and murders motivated by prejudice affected a wide range of groups, including visible minorities to those with disabilities. A linked report examined victims' experiences.
Source: Making Hate Crime Visible in the European Union: Acknowledging victims rights, European Agency for Fundamental Rights | Minorities as Victims of Crime, European Agency for Fundamental Rights
Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | FRA press release
Date: 2012-Nov
A report examined whether the European Union had competence to adopt legislation on hate crimes against groups defined by reference to race, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, and religion. It concluded that the best way forward would be to adopt a Directive concerning bias/hate crimes as regards all groups, which would incorporate and strengthen the existing framework decision on racism and xenophobia.
Source: Steve Peers, The Legal Grounds for Inclusive EU Legislation against Bias Violence and Hatred, ILGA Europe
Links: Report
Date: 2012-Oct
The equality and human rights watchdog published a manifesto containing recommendations designed to tackle disability-related harassment. It said that national and devolved governments needed to review the adequacy and effectiveness of the legal framework for offences that were motivated by hostility to disability.
Source: Out in the Open: Tackling Disability Related Harassment – A Manifesto for Change, Equality and Human Rights Commission
Links: Manifesto | EHRC press release | ACPO press release
Date: 2012-Oct
An article examined the extent to which police forces were set up to deal with hate crime against people with learning disabilities. Accountability structures were often found to be unclear. Many services did not have hate crime policies that dealt specifically with people with learning disabilities, or even disabled people in general.
Source: Chih Hoong Sin, Sanah Sheikh, and Mohini Khanna, 'Police readiness for tackling hate crime against people with learning disabilities: areas for improvement and examples of good practice', Safer Communities, Volume 11 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jul
A new book examined the issue of disability, hate crime, and violence. It explored its emergence on the policy agenda, and made suggestions for policy and legislative reform.
Source: Alan Roulstone and Hannah Mason-Bish (eds.), Disability, Hate Crime and Violence, Routledge
Links: Summary
Date: 2012-Jun
A report examined hate crimes and hate incidents in the higher education sector. Asian or Asian British respondents were the group most worried about being subject to abuse because of racial prejudice, with 48 per cent saying that they were very or fairly worried.
Source: Robert Holland and Sarah Wayman, No Place for Hate: Hate crimes and incidents in further and higher education – Race and ethnicity, National Union of Students
Links: Report
Date: 2012-May
The coalition government published an action plan for tackling hate crime. It identified three key objectives: preventing hate crime – by challenging the attitudes that underpinned it, and intervening early to prevent it escalating; increasing reporting and access to support – by building victim confidence and supporting local partnerships; and improving the operational response to hate crimes – by better identifying and managing cases, and dealing effectively with offenders.
Source: Challenge it, Report it, Stop it: The government s plan to tackle hate crime, Home Office
Links: Action plan | Hansard | Home Office press release | ACPO press release
Date: 2012-Mar
A report examined the extent of (and perceptions towards) hate crime; use of the internet and cyber security; and the experience of crime among children aged 10-15.
Source: Kevin Smith (ed.), Deborah Lader, Jacqueline Hoare, and and Ivy Lau, Hate Crime, Cyber Security and the Experience of Crime Among Children: Findings from the 2010/11 British Crime Survey – Supplementary Volume 3 to Crime in England and Wales 2010/11, Statistical Bulletin 06/12, Home Office
Links: Bulletin | Home Office press release
Date: 2012-Mar