Hate Crime

Major investigation and public protection — Authorised Professional Practice

Summary

This section of the College of Policing's Authorised Professional Practice (APP) focuses on hate crime, detailing the responses required when addressing incidents motivated by hostility towards individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and gender identity. It highlights the importance of understanding the nature of hate crimes, engaging with communities, and employing partnership working to address and reduce incidents. Officers are guided on best practices for responding to hate crimes and non-crime hate incidents, victim and witness care, and the legal implications involved in prosecuting hate crimes. The content stresses the necessity for effective intelligence gathering, strategic leadership, and performance management, alongside considerations for online hate and its intersection with counter-terrorism.

Key principles

1Understand the nature and impact of hate crime
2Ensure victim and witness care
3Implement effective partnership working
4Engage with communities to foster trust
5Utilize intelligence for informed policing
6Manage performance in hate crime investigations

Defined terms

Hate crime: Criminal acts motivated by hostility or prejudice towards individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or gender identity.
Non-crime hate incidents: Incidents that do not meet the threshold for a criminal offense but are motivated by hostility or prejudice.

Full guidance

Responding to public protection and major investigation issues, for example, child abuse, knife crime and sexual offences

This page is from APP, the official source of professional practice for policing.

[ACPO (2013) National Threats to Life Guidelines. \[Internet\].London: ACP (This link is available to authorised users who are logged on to the College Learn environment)(opens an external website in the same tab)](https://www.learn.college.pnn.police.uk/CourseContent/35344/ACPO%20(2013)%20National%20Threats%20to%20Life%20Guidelines%20RESTRICTED.pdf)

[ACPO (2007) Guiding Principles for the Police Service in relation to the articulation and expression of religious beliefs and their manifestations in the workplace. \[Internet\]. London: ACPO](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=2ahUKEwiVy57T55bkAhU4ThUIHY81CakQFjABegQIAhAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Flibrary.college.police.uk%2Fdocs%2Facpo%2FGuiding-Principles-in-relation-to-Religious-Beliefs.doc&usg=AOvVaw07PHS_GsCZxYdlofesyeMv)

[Bennet, O., (2013) Muslim extremists planned to nail bomb EDL rally in retaliation for ‘blasphemy’, The Express \[Internet\], 6 April(opens an external website in the same tab)](https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/405583/Muslim-extremists-planned-to-nail-bomb-EDL-rally-in-retaliation-for-blasphemy)

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[College of Policing (2018) Neighbourhood Policing Guidelines. \[Internet\]. Ryton-on-Dunsmore: College of Policing](https://www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/Standards/Guidelines/Neighbourhood-Policing/Pages/solving-problems.aspx)

[College of Policing (2017) Vulnerability, an aid to understanding. \[Internet\]. Ryton-on-Dunsmore: College of Policing(opens an external website in the same tab)](https://www.learn.college.pnn.police.uk/CourseContent/29436/poster_vulnerability.pdf)

[College of Policing (2014) National Policing Hate Crime Strategy \[Internet\] Ryton-on-Dunsmore: College of Policing](https://library.college.police.uk/docs/college-of-policing/National-Policing-Hate-Crime-strategy.pdf)

[College of Policing (2019) APP on Critical Incident Management \[Internet\]](https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/critical-incident-management/?s=)

[College of Policing (2019) APP on Investigation \[Internet\] Ryton-on-Dunsmore: College of Policing](https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/investigations/?s=)

[College of Policing (2019) APP on Stalking or Harassment \[Internet\] Ryton-on-Dunsmore: College of Policing](https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/major-investigation-and-public-protection/stalking-or-harassment/)

[College of Policing (2019) APP on Information management \[Internet\] Ryton-on-Dunsmore: College of Policing](https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/information-management/management-of-police-information/)

[College of Policing (2019) APP on Engagement \[Internet\] Ryton-on-Dunsmore: College of Policing](https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/engagement-and-communication/engaging-with-communities/)

[College of Policing (2019) APP on Communications \[internet\]. Ryton-on-Dunsmore: College of Policing](https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/engagement-and-communication/communications/)

[College of Policing (2019) APP on Intelligence \[internet\]. Ryton-on-Dunsmore: College of Policing](https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/intelligence-management/?s=)

[College of Policing (2019) APP on Data Protection \[internet\]. Ryton-on-Dunsmore: College of Policing](https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/information-management/data-protection/)

[College of Policing (2019) APP on Victim and witness care \[internet\]. Ryton-on-Dunsmore: College of Policing](https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/prosecution-and-case-management/victim-and-witness-care/)

[College of Policing (2019) APP on Briefing and debriefing \[internet\]. Ryton-on-Dunsmore: College of Policing](https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/operations/briefing-and-debriefing/)

[College of Policing (2023) Police information and records management Code of Practice \[internet\]](https://www.college.police.uk/guidance/police-information-and-records-management-code-practice) .

Council of Europe (2019) Toolkit for Police Officers: Council of Europe standards on racially motivated crimes and non-discrimination with focus on Roma and Travellers. Strasbourg: Council of Europe)

[Crown Prosecution Service: Hate Crime \[internet\]. London: CPS(opens an external website in the same tab)](https://www.cps.gov.uk/hate-crime)

[Crown Prosecution Service: Charging (The Director’s Guidance) 2013 – fifth edition, May 2013 (revised arrangements) \[internet\]. London: CPS(opens an external website in the same tab)](https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/charging-directors-guidance-2013-fifth-edition-may-2013-revised-arrangements)

[Crown Prosecution Service: Social Media – Guidelines on prosecuting cases involving communications sent via social media \[internet\]. London: CPS(opens an external website in the same tab)](https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/social-media-guidelines-prosecuting-cases-involving-communications-sent-social-media)

[Crown Prosecution Service: Community Impact Statements and their use in Hate Crime cases \[internet\]. London: CPS(opens an external website in the same tab)](https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/community-impact-statements-and-their-use-hate-crime-cases)

[EHRC (2011) Hidden in Plain Sight. \[Internet\] London: Equality and Human Rights Commission(opens an external website in the same tab)](https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/publication-download/hidden-plain-sight-inquiry-disability-related-harassment)

[High Courts of Justice (2010) R v Shepherd and Whittle \[2010\] EWCA Crim 65 \[Internet\].(opens an external website in the same tab)](http://www.5rb.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/R-v-Shepherd-and-Anor-2010-EWCA-Crim-65.pdf)

[Home Office (2018) Hate Crime, England and Wales, 2017 to 2018. \[internet\] London: Home Office(opens an external website in the same tab)](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/748598/hate-crime-1718-hosb2018.pdf)

[HM Government (2014) Challenge It, Report It, Stop It; Delivering the Government’s hate crime action plan. \[Internet\] London: Home Office(opens an external website in the same tab)](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/307624/HateCrimeActionPlanProgressReport.pdf)

[House of Lords (2007) Judgments. R v. Rogers (Appellant) (On Appeal from the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)) \[2007\] UKHL 8. London: TSO(opens an external website in the same tab)](https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldjudgmt/jd070228/rogers.htm)

[R (on the application of Harry Miller) and The College of Policing/Chief Constable of Humberside Police, \[2020\] EWHC 225 (Admin)(opens an external website in the same tab)](https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/miller-v-college-of-police-judgment.pdf)

[Restorative Justice Council (2017) Campaign launched to tackle hate crime in Derbyshire. The Restorative justice Council \[Internet\] 24 March(opens an external website in the same tab)](https://restorativejustice.org.uk/news/campaign-launched-tackle-hate-crime-derbyshire)

[United Kingdom. Parliament. 1997. Protection from Harassment Act 1997 \[internet\]. London: TSO(opens an external website in the same tab)](http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1997/40/contents)

[United Kingdom. Parliament. 2004. The Criminal Justice (No.2) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 \[internet\]. London: TSO.(opens an external website in the same tab)](http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/2004/1991)

[United Kingdom. Parliament. 1998. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 \[internet\]. London: TSO.(opens an external website in the same tab)](http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/37/contents)

[United Kingdom. Parliament. 2001. The Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 \[internet\]. London: TSO(opens an external website in the same tab)](http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2001/24/contents)

[United Kingdom. Parliament. 1986. The Public Order Act 1986 \[internet\]. London: TSO(opens an external website in the same tab)](http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/64/contents)

[United Kingdom. Parliament. 1991. The Football (Offences) Act 1991 \[internet\]. London: TSO(opens an external website in the same tab)](http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/19/contents)

[United Kingdom. Parliament. 2003. The Criminal Justice Act 2003 \[internet\]. London: TSO(opens an external website in the same tab)](http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/44/contents)

[United Kingdom. Parliament. 2018. The Data Protection Act 2018 \[internet\]. London: TSO(opens an external website in the same tab)](http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2018/12/contents/enacted)

[United Kingdom. Parliament. 2010. The Equality Act 2010 \[internet\]. London: TSO(opens an external website in the same tab)](http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents)

[United Kingdom. Parliament. 1984. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 \[internet\]. London: TSO(opens an external website in the same tab)](http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/60/contents)

[United Kingdom. Parliament. 1998. The Human Rights Act 1998 \[internet\]. London: TSO(opens an external website in the same tab)](http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/contents)

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Reproduced from the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice under the Open Government Licence v3.0, as captured on 2026-06-27. APP is amended over time — check the source link below for the current version. This is a reference, not operational authorisation.

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Source: College of Policing — Authorised Professional Practice · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-27.