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Oct 2020

Last Updated: 12/10/2020

Crime

Only 17% of Harrogate hate crime reports lead to charges

by Thomas Barrett

| 13 Oct, 2020

The Stray Ferret obtained the figure using the Freedom of Information Act. The majority of complaints were for racial hate. This week is National Hate Crime Awareness Week.

A total of 264 hate crimes were reported in the Harrogate district in the last three years — but fewer than two in 10 led to a charge.

One hundred and sixty seven of the reports were for racial hate crimes, 32 were for homophobia and 20 related to disabled people. There were also 13 reports relating to Muslims and eight relating to trans people.

In total, 46 charges were brought, which represents 17 per cent of the number of complaints made.

The Stray Ferret obtained the figures, which cover 2017, 2018, and 2019, from North Yorkshire Police through the Freedom of Information Act.

The number of reported hate crimes was stable in each of the three years but the number of reports that led to a charge decreased from 21 in 2017 to nine in 2019.

The police cited a variety of reasons for not bringing charges, including being unable to identify the suspect, the victim deciding not to support police action, and community resolutions.

Crown Prosecution Service figures show that the national conviction rate for hate crimes in 2018/19 was 84.3%.

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Hate crime often involves verbal or physical abuse but can also cover vandalism, criminal damage, graffiti, arson, cyberbullying, offensive communications, threats of attack, or financial exploitation.

This week is National Hate Crime Awareness Week and superintendent Mark Khan, North Yorkshire Police’s lead for hate crime, said he wanted the public to feel confident reporting hate crime.

He said:

"Hate crime has a devastating impact on its victims, their families and their communities.

"It’s so important that we do not let this type of behaviour go unnoticed or unchallenged. Reporting hate crime is everyone’s business. We want people in Harrogate, and across North Yorkshire, to report it – and to feel confident reporting it.

"So whether you are a victim of any kind of hate crime, or have witnessed a hate crime incident, no matter how insignificant it may seem, we would urge you to call the police, via 101 or 999 in an emergency.

"If you do not wish to speak to the police, contact Supporting Victims in North Yorkshire or visit True Vision, who can both be contacted confidentially and can offer support and advice."

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Only 17% of Harrogate hate crime reports lead to charges

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