As part of Hate Crime Awareness Week, we wanted to remind you that anyone experiencing hate crime can report it to the University either anonymously, or via informal report.
As part of Hate Crime Awareness Week, we wanted to remind our staff and students that the University of Portsmouth is a designated Third Party Reporting Centre for reporting hate crime.
Staff and students can report hate crime to the University either anonymously, or via informal report, where an advisor will contact you to follow up.
What is a Third Party Reporting Centre?
Not all victims are comfortable with reporting their experiences directly to the police. Some victims may find visiting police stations intimidating or daunting, some may not be aware of alternative ways of reporting, or they fear being outed in terms of their sexuality or disability.
Third party reporting centres (TPRCs) overcome these barriers by providing an alternative way to report a hate crime. They give confidential advice, help you report it, and support you along the way. You can remain anonymous if you wish, and you don’t need to have contact with the police if you don’t want to.
What is a hate crime?
Hate crimes are any crimes that are targeted at a person because of hostility or prejudice towards that person’s:
- disability;
- race or ethnicity;
- religion or belief;
- sexual orientation;
- transgender identity.
This can be committed against a person or property. A victim does not have to be a member of the group at which the hostility is targeted. In fact, anyone could be a victim of a hate crime.
The University is an inclusive working and learning environment where all its staff and students should expect to be treated with dignity and respect and it is important that if any of our university community experiences hate crime either within the campus or in the local community they report is to the University and if you feel comfortable to, to the Police.
Visit our web page for more information about support following a hate crime.
Using the Report and Support tool to report harassment
Everyone has the right to feel safe and welcome at the University. Bullying, harassment, prejudice, discrimination and sexual misconduct of any kind are completely unacceptable at any time. Please report any incident of socially unacceptable behaviour so that we can identify common issues and offer support.