The Government's definition of hate crime involves any criminal offence which is perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a personal characteristic. The definition covers five main strands that are:

 Disability
      Gender-identity
      Race
   Religion or faith
   Sexual orientation.

Legislation has been in place for a number of years to protect victims from such hate crimes, including offences for those who intend to stir up racial hatred, and those who commit racially and religiously aggravated offences. Increasing the severity of sentencing reflects the seriousness of hate crime.

Oxford City Council has worked in partnership with West Oxfordshire District Council, Vale & South District Councils, Oxfordshire County Council & Thames Valley Police to commission a third party reporting centre.  The aim is to raise general awareness of hate crime, to encourage reporting of it and to promote help and support available to victims.There are people that are still living and working in Oxfordshire who are victims of harassment or abuse because of their race, faith, disability or sexual orientation. But it also seeks to make people aware that hate crime will not be tolerated and will be taken seriously by the police and partners when it is reported. The police always want to know about incidents of hate crime. However, if for whatever reason, anybody feels not able to go to the police direct, then they can now report hate crime direct to the national charity Stop Hate UK. They decide what happens to the information they give and what kind of help and support they would like.

Contact details are as follows:

Phone: 0800 138 1625 (24 hour confidential helpline)
Website: http://www.stophateuk.org/
Text: 07717 989 025
Email: talk@stophateuk.org
Web chat: www.stophateuk.org/talk