Hate Crime is defined as ‘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. The five monitored strands of hate crime are listed below,

• Disability, A person’s disability or perceived disability, or any disability including physical disability, learning disability and mental health or developmental disorders.

• Race, A person’s race or perceived race, or any racial group or ethnic background including countries within the UK and Gypsy and Traveller groups; this includes asylum seekers and migrants.

• Religion/Faith, A person’s religion or perceived religion, or any religious group including those who have no faith.

• Sexual Orientation, A person’s sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation, or any person’s sexual orientation.

• Transgender Identity, A person who is transgender or perceived to be transgender, including people who are transsexual, transgender, cross dressers and those who hold a Gender Recognition Certificate under the Gender Recognition Act 2004.