Understanding Experiences of Hate Crime Victimisation and Expectations of Criminal Justice Responses

• Start date: 10 September 2012
• End date: 09 September 2014

This two-year study will examine the experiences and expectations of those who are victimised because of their identity, vulnerability or perceived 'difference' in the eyes of the perpetrator. By exploring hate crime in a broader sense of 'targeted victimisation', the project aims to investigate the experiences of the more ‘recognised’ hate crime victim communities, including those who experience racist, religiously motivated, homophobic, disablist and transphobic victimisation, as well as those who are marginalised from existing hate crime scholarly and policy frameworks. The study will also investigate respondents’ perceptions of criminal justice agencies and other service providers in order to assess the needs of victims and to identify lessons for effective service delivery.

The site for the research is Leicester, one of the most plural cities in the UK containing a diverse range of communities whose views will be accessed for this study. The research team will administer online and written surveys to victims of hate crime within these communities as well as undertake in-depth interviews to probe issues in greater depth. Regular updates on their progress will also be provided via a dedicated project website and through social networking media to establish a sense of accessibility and transparency.