Hate crime

A hate crime is any criminal offence targeted at a person due to their identity that involves hostility or violence. The law recognises five types of hate crime based on:

• race
• religion
• disability
• sexual orientation
• transgender identity

Hate crime affects not only the victim but entire communities. Please help us stamp out hate crime in the district by reporting any incidents of abuse or violence motivated by prejudice.

There are several ways to report hate crime:

• if there is an immediate danger to life, call the police on 999 – or use the textphone service 18000 if you have a speech or hearing impairment
• in non-emergency situations, call the police on 101 or report the incident online
• call us on 01923 776611

Get support

If you have been a victim of hate crime, the Hertfordshire Mind Network Community Support Service work alongside you to develop a tailored package of support to help you recover from your ordeal.

You may also find the below organisations helpful:

• The Beaumont Society offers practical and emotional  assistance to members of the transgender community
• Galop supports members of the LGBT*Q+ community who have experienced abuse or violence
• The Watford and Three Rivers-based Disability Watford provides information and support to people with disability
• The Community Security Trust campaigns against anti-Semitism and supports British Jews
• Tell MAMA monitors anti-Muslim hate crime and supports victims of Islamophobia
• the Eastern European Resource Centre supports Eastern European communities, including victims of hate crime
• Karma Nirvana supports victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage
• The Hertfordshire Beacon Victim Care Centre provides emotional and practical help if are the victim of a crime
• Gate Herts offers a range of support to members of the travelling community
• Herts against Hate - provides information about hate crime to people who live, work in or visit Hertfordshire

Third Party Reporting

Third Party Reporting Centres provide a confidential setting where individuals can disclose their experiences without fear of judgment or retaliation. Centre staff can provide emotional support, information, and guidance to victims, helping them understand their rights and options.

We currently have three organisations who operate Third Party Reporting Centres within the district: 

Three Rivers District Council:

•  Three Rivers House, Northway, Rickmansworth WD3 1RL

Citizens Advice Bureau:

• Rickmansworth: Three Rivers House, Northway, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 1RL.
• South Oxhey: Oxhey Drive (The old police station) South Oxhey, Hertfordshire, WD19 7SD
• Abbot Langley: The Old Stables, St Lawrence’s Vicarage, High Street, Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire, WD5 0AS

Otley Way Family Centre:

• Otley Way, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD19 7TB

Alternatively if you would like to report a Hate Crime online please visit https://www.report-it.org.uk/ to access resources that will support with this process.

Additional resources

A series of posters have been produced by Three Rivers District Council highlighting the different forms of hate crime and how it can affect different communities:

View the poster on disability hate crimes (PDF)
View the poster on hate crimes targeting Muslim people(PDF)
View the poster on hate crimes targeting Jewish people (PDF)
View the poster on racially motivated hate crimes (PDF)
View the poster on hate crimes targeting sexual and gender identity (PDF)
View the poster on hate crimes targeting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities (PDF)
View the poster on transgender hate crimes (PDF)
View the poster on faith related hate crimes (PDF)

A series of videos have been produced by Three Rivers District Council highlighting what a hate crime is and how it can affect different communities:

Video one: What is hate crime?

Video two: Hate crime and mental health

Video three: Hate crime and physical health