Prejudice based abuse

Prejudice based abuse or hate crime is any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice based on a person’s real or perceived:

• • Disability

  • Race

  • Religion

  • Gender identity

  • Sexual orientation

Although this sort of crime is collectively known as 'Hate Crime' the offender doesn't have to go as far as being motivated by 'hate', they only have to exhibit 'hostility'.

This can be evidenced by:

• threatened or actual physical assault

• derogatory name calling, insults, for example racist jokes or homophobic language

• hate graffiti (e.g. on school furniture, walls or books)

• provocative behaviour e.g. wearing of badges or symbols belonging to known right wing, or extremist organisations

• distributing literature that may be offensive in relation to a protected characteristic

• verbal abuse

• inciting hatred or bullying against pupils who share a protected characteristic

• prejudiced or hostile comments in the course of discussions within lessons

• teasing in relation to any protected characteristic e.g. sexuality, language, religion or cultural background

• refusal to co-operate with others because of their protected characteristic, whether real or perceived

• expressions of prejudice calculated to offend or influence the behaviour of others

• attempts to recruit other pupils to organisations and groups that sanction violence, terrorism or hatred.
   

  As a school we will respond by:

• clearly identifying prejudice based incidents and hate crimes and monitor the frequency and nature of them within the school

• taking preventative action to reduce the likelihood of such incidents occurring

• recognising the wider implications of such incidents for the school and local community

• providing regular reports of these incidents to the Governing Body

• ensuring that staff are familiar with formal procedures for recording and dealing with prejudice based incidents and hate crimes

• dealing with perpetrators of prejudice based abuse effectively

• supporting victims of prejudice based incidents and hate crimes

• ensuring that staff are familiar with a range of restorative practices to address bullying and prevent it happening again