🆘
Crisis right now? Galop LGBT+:
0800 999 5428 (Mon-Tue 9:15-20:00, Wed-Fri 9:15-16:30) · 999 if in immediate danger
📋 What is hate crime in the UK
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) definition
A hate crime is any criminal offence which the victim or any other person perceives to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on:
- Sexual orientation
- Transgender identity
- Race or ethnic origin
- Religion or belief
- Disability
The key word is «perceives». You do not need to prove the attacker's intent. It is enough that you perceived it that way.
Source: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), hate crime definition.
⚖️ Hate crime vs hate incident
The difference matters
Hate crime is a criminal offence — for example, assault, threats, theft, vandalism with an LGBT motive. This is recorded as a crime.
Hate incident is a non-criminal but recorded event — for example, verbal abuse that does not meet the criminal threshold. Police must still record this.
Both categories matter. Hate incidents help identify patterns and protect communities.
Source: UK Home Office, «Hate crime, England and Wales, year ending March 2025», published 10 October 2025.
📌 UK statistics 2024-2025 (verbatim from official source)
Year ending March 2025:
• 18,702 sexual orientation hate crimes (−2% year-on-year, 3rd successive annual fall)
• 3,809 transgender-identity-aggravated hate crimes (−11% year-on-year, but +50% vs 2020/21)
Source: UK Home Office, «Hate crime, England and Wales, year ending March 2025»
Published: 10 October 2025.
Read on gov.uk → 📝 Where to report hate crime
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999 — emergency services
If you are in danger right now or an attack just happened — call 999. It is free. An interpreter is available.
📞
101 — non-emergency police
If there is no immediate danger but you want to report a crime. You will be given a crime number. An interpreter is available.
📝
True Vision — anonymous online reporting
Report a hate crime anonymously without going to the police. Data goes directly into the system. Suitable if you are afraid to go to the police.
🏳️🌈
Galop — LGBT-specific helpline
Galop is the national LGBT+ organisation for hate crime. They help you report, provide support and advocacy. They work with LGBT asylum seekers and have interpreter access.
Mon-Tue 09:15-20:00, Wed-Fri 09:15-16:30 (daily break 13:00-14:00)
🏳️🌈 Other Galop helplines
Separate helplines from Galop
In addition to the main hate crime line, Galop runs separate helplines:
- Domestic abuse — if there is violence in a relationship with a partner
- Sexual abuse — if you experienced sexual violence
- Conversion practices — if you were pressured to «be cured» or change your orientation
All lines are free. galop.org.uk
⚠️ This page is information, not immigration advice. Legal questions — speak with an IAA/SRA/BSB-regulated lawyer.
