Evidence submitted to parliamentary inquiry: hate crime and its violent consequences

The aim of this submission is to draw the Committee’s attention to the need for law reform for hate crime, to provide recommendations for improving reporting and recording of hate crime, and to highlight current research evidence on responses to hate crime. The disparate and hierarchical structure of hate crime law is in need of reform. However, before the relevant legislation is amended the Government may benefit from awaiting the results of a full scale review of the legal process for hate crime currently being conducted at the University of Sussex. Research shows that there is still a significant problem of under-reporting. Further training of police officers is required to improve identification (flagging) of hate crimes, while more efficient use, and implementation of, third party reporting agencies is needed (including via the use of online technology/ apps). More evidence is required on ‘what works’ in addressing the causes of prejudice- motivated crime in order to ensure that the Government invests in interventions that are evidence-based. There is some tentative empirical evidence illustrating how restorative justice can help to repair the harms of hate crime while also addressing its underlying causes. Both macro and micro level reform in criminal justice policy is needed if we are to move towards greater use of restorative and community-based interventions for hate crime.