Hate crime is any crime motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person’s:
- disability
- gender identity
- race or ethnicity
- religion or belief
- sexual orientation
A victim does not have to belong to the group targeted by the hostility. Anyone could be a victim of a hate crime.
Hate crime might involve:
- bullying
- damage to property
- domestic abuse
- graffiti
- harassment
- physical attacks
- verbal abuse
Hate Crime Awareness Week 2025
To mark Hate Crime Awareness Week 2025, we produced a video that reflects the spirit of Cambridge — a city that celebrates diversity and stands united against hate.
Featuring voices from across our community, the video is a powerful reminder that inclusion, respect, and kindness are at the heart of who we are.
Report hate crime
We and Cambridgeshire Constabulary take hate crime seriously. If you have experienced hate crime, report it to the police.
- Call 999 if it is an emergency.
- Call 101 or report hate crime to the police if it is not an emergency.
- If you are a city council tenant, you can report hate crime as antisocial behaviour.
Support
Many organisations provide free support and advice for people who have experienced hate crime.
Local organisations
- Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum delivers the Cambridgeshire Human Rights and Equality Support Service. This supports people who have experienced discrimination, harassment or victimisation and infringements to their human rights.
- Cambridgeshire Victim and Witness Hub provides confidential support for victims of crime. You do not need to report the crime to police to access this support.
- Stop Hate UK provides support for people to report hate crimes.
National organisations
- The Community Security Trust protects British Jews from antisemitism and related threats.
- Crimestoppers provides a helpline for reporting crime anonymously.
- Galop provides advice and support to members of the LGBT community.
- Tell Mama supports victims of anti-Muslim hate and monitors anti-Muslim incidents.
- True Vision provides a tool to report hate crime online.
