Hate Crime Policy

Title	Hate Crime Policy
Lead Officer/Author	Claire Tough
Position	Director of Communities and Customer Service
Department/Section	Communities and Customer Service
Contact details	01278 435400 Email: claire.tough@homesinsedgemoor.org Homes in Sedgemoor, Bridgwater House, King Square, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 3AR

Document control	Date	Comments
Version	V1.0	This is a new Policy. Version control reset Therefore this is version 1.0
Draft produced	July 2023
H&S Forum consultation	8 Nov 2023	Circulated for Review
I.T. Steering Group Consultation	NA
G.D.P.R. Working Group Consultation		Included with SLT
Leadership Team consultation		Included with SLT
Tenants Service Improvement Group	19 Sept 2023	Suggestion to include involved customers panel in e-learning
Strategic Leadership Team/H&S Committee approval	August 2023	Include how colleagues, contractors and customers are appraised of this policy. Update to refer to the Data Protection Act 2018
Board approval	Not Required
Approved version issued
Issue number
Target review	Nov 2026
Amendments/updates

Policy Statement

This policy statement sets out Homes in Sedgemoor’s (HiS) policy on managing reports of Hate Crime. It includes a statement of principles for use by colleagues for developing and accessing arrangements for those who have experienced or are experiencing hate crime.

Definition

There is no legal definition of hostility so we use the everyday understanding of the word which includes ill-will, spite, contempt, prejudice, unfriendliness, antagonism, resentment and dislike.
A working definition is “Any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards someone based on a personal characteristic”.
A hate incident is when the victim or anyone else thinks an incident, such as bullying or abuse, was motivated by hostility or prejudice based on one of the following things:

• Disability – including physical disabilities, sensory impairments, learning disabilities and mental health issues.
• Race, skin colour, ethnic origin, nationality – including against gypsies and travellers.
• Religion or belief – including lack of religious belief.
• Sexual orientation – including homophobia.
• Gender identity – including resentment of transgender people, trans-sexual and transvestites

All colleagues, contractors, customers and prospective customers are appraised of this at the commencement of their tenancy, lease or contract with us through staff induction, contract commencement meetings and our website.

A hate crime can include verbal abuse, intimidation, threats, harassment, assault, bullying, incitement to hatred as well as damage to property.

The perpetrator can be a friend, carer or acquaintance who exploits their relationship with the victim for financial gain or some other criminal purpose. Mate crime is when vulnerable people are befriended, bullied or manipulated by people they consider to be friends.

When hate incidents become criminal offences they are known as hate crimes.

Purpose of Policy

The purpose of this Hate Crime Policy is to strengthen our commitment to tackling hate crime and incidents and to make sure support is available to people who are victims of hate crime and hate incidents.
We will do this by:

• Promoting a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime in all its forms
• Define hate incidents and hate crime and associated behaviour.
• Set out the responsibilities of colleagues in relation to reporting and recording hate incidents, supporting victims and witnesses and dealing effectively with perpetrators.
• Guide colleagues in assessing the vulnerability of victims at an early stage.
• Reinforce the importance of a multi-agency approaches.
• Confirm hate related incidents or harassment between colleagues will not be tolerated and must be reported immediately, in the first instance, to the appropriate line manager.
• Offer a non-judgemental approach, a safe space, listen and validate experiences.

This policy is intended as guidance to set out a clear and effective response to deal with reports of hate incidents.

Scope of the Policy

This Policy incorporates all the functions and services delivered by Homes In Sedgemoor (HIS) staff, partners, contractors and nominated charities and specifically relates to:

• All employees, including Board Members of HIS who have dealings with our customers, prospective customers, contractors, partners and stakeholders and who are required to act in a position of trust and to act responsibly and within the law.
  All volunteers and other workers involved in the provision of housing services but not employed by the organisation, including workers in organisations with whom this organisation has contracts for the delivery of services.

Principles and Our Commitment

We value our diverse communities which make Somerset a unique and vibrant place to live, work and visit.
However, we know that diverse communities can face discrimination, harassment and hate crime and incidents. There is no place for these forms of prejudice and hate and we will do all we can with our partners to tackle this.
We will:

• work with partner agencies to raise the profile of hate crime in Somerset
• work with Somerset Council, Avon and Somerset Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to make sure the right strategies are in place to respond to hate crime and incidents and community tensions
• promote third party reporting and support services
• work with schools, youth and community organisations on tackling hate crime
• develop hate crime awareness training for all our employees.

Reporting Hate Crimes and Hate Incidents

If you’ve been affected by hate crime, we can help you. We will offer you support and help you decide what to do next.
Within 24 hours of us receiving a report regarding a hate crime, you will be contacted by an officer who will arrange a home visit, or you can request to meet at a location of your choice.
At the visit we will:

• Treat you with respect, listen to what you have to say and gather as much supporting information from you as we can.
  • Meet the victim at a location of their choosing within a set period of time to obtain more information.
  • Identify the nuances and impacts of the incidents. Has the victim suffered an intersectional hate incident/crime? For example, are they both Muslim and disabled?
• Make you aware of all the available options which include:
  • Referral to support agencies including Victim Support and police
  • Contacting witnesses and gathering further evidence
  • Taking action against the perpetrator
• Offer temporary or permanent re-housing in exceptional circumstances.
• Upon agreeing a course of action with you, we will:
  • Keep you updated
  • Review the case
  • Only contact witnesses, other residents in the area and or the alleged perpetrator with your consent
  • With your consent, we will liaise with other organistions that are already involved or could help.
  • Offer a non-judgemental approach, a safe space, and listen and validate experiences.
  • Identify with the client issues of confidentiality, anonymity, and vulnerability.
  • Provide emotional support.
  • Provide relevant information, including a copy of this hate crime policy, list of other support and advice services, diary sheets to record further incidents.
  • Agree actions that provide support and which Provide relevant information, including a copy of the hate crime policy, list of other support and advice services, diary sheets to record further incidents.
  • Agree actions that provide support and which respond to the complaint, including who will take them and when.
  • Agree how often the complainant will be contacted and kept informed, and by whom.
  • Work with partner agencies to provide assistance, including referral to a community based or specialist support service.
  • Identify what support can be offered if the case goes to court.
  • When appropriate, discuss closing the case, offer after-care and confirm in writing.
  • Send a customer satisfaction form after the case has been closed.
  • Review cases and outcomes on at least an annual basis.

Responsible Persons

The Director of Communities and Customer Service is the strategic lead within the organisation and is responsible for working with partners and stakeholders to ensure we are delivering on our commitments to eradicate hate crime and ensure our communities are safe places for all.

The Housing Manager is responsible for the effective implementation of this policy and ensuring that all colleagues are adequately trained to support customers who report hate crime or hate incidents.

Spare

Legal Requirements

This policy is drawn up taking in to account the following legislation:

• Social Housing (Regulation) Act
• Housing Acts 1985, 1988, 1996 and 2004
• Equality Act 2010
• Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003
• Criminal Justice Act 2003
• Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
• Counter-Terrorism Security Act 2015.
• Crime and Disorder Act 1998
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
• Data Protection Act 2018

“Action Against Hate”; the UK Government’s plan for tackling hate crime (published July 2016) guidance has also been taken into account in developing this Policy, as well as the governments published Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Action Plan (March 2023).

We will use a wide range of approaches to tackle hate crime, keep up to date on current best practice and self-assess against the seven core commitments of the “Respect – ASB Charter for Housing”. The seven commitments are:

• demonstrating leadership and strategic commitment;
• providing an accessible and accountable service;
• taking swift action to protect communities;
• adopting a supportive approach to working with victims and witnesses;
• encouraging individual and community responsibility;
• having a clear focus on prevention and early intervention;
• ensuring a value for money approach is embedded in the service.

If we identify gaps in service provision, action plans will be produced to address these.

Performance Monitoring

Within the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) Neighbourhood and Community Standard, HIS commit to ensuring the neighbourhoods we manage are clean, safe and well maintained. These standards support the management of anti-social behaviour (which covers hate incidents) and includes the following:

• We treat all reports seriously and confidentially
• We will remove offensive graffiti by the next working day
• We will respond to complaints of serious nuisance or harassment by the next working day
• We will provide regular updates to complainants on progress made
• We will investigate all reports fully before acting

Review

The policy is reviewed every three years or sooner based on changes in legislation. We will consider customer satisfaction responses and feedback from all involved and un-involved customer groups and use this to improve our services.
Corporate and Strategic key performance indicators are reported on a monthly basis to Executive Team; quarterly to Board and as part of the Annual Report to customers. These indicators are as follows:

Risk assessments are carried out periodically to obtain detailed information of the customer’s needs and wellbeing throughout their case and improvements in the service are implemented from this.

Associated Policies/Procedures/Risk Assessment

HIS have produced a suite of procedures that outline our approach to assessing and investigation of reports of hate crime. These processes include :

• Hate Crime flowchart
• Risk Assessment Matrix
• ASB flowcharts

A copy of our processes and procedures are available for customers to view on our website or by post on request.