The Leicester Hate Crime Project
Over a two-year period from 2012 to 2014, the Leicester Hate Crime Project team conducted ground-breaking research into acts of hate, prejudice and targeted hostility. Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, this research – Britain’s biggest ever study of hate crime victimisation – uncovered new insights into the nature and forms of these acts and their impact upon victims, families and wider communities.
The Leicester Hate Crime Project had three broad aims:
- To discover as much as possible about people’s experiences of hate, prejudice and targeted hostility
- To understand the physical and emotional harms suffered by victims and their families
- To identify ways of improving the quality of support offered to victims
This body of work is designed to make a sustained difference with respect to helping organisations and individuals challenge all forms of hate crime.
Our reports
We have produced eight different reports as part of the Leicester Hate Crime Project, including a findings and conclusions: full report, an executive summary, a series of themed briefing papers and a victims’ manifesto for organisations to pledge support to.
We sincerely hope that this body of work makes a real and sustained difference with respect to helping organisations and individuals challenge all forms of hate crime.
Findings and conclusions
This is the full report, containing a comprehensive overview of the findings and conclusions from the project. It has been structured to outline victims’ experiences and expectations collectively, although where significant variations between and within groups have emerged, these have been identified. Read our findings and conclusions (PDF, 2.10mb).
Findings and conclusions: executive summary
This executive summary presents the key findings in concise form. Read our findings and conclusions: executive summary (PDF, 335kb).
Victims' manifesto
On the basis of the project findings and conclusions (see the comprehensive commentary), the research team has produced a victims' manifesto which embodies the needs and expectations of those whose lives have been directly affected by hate crime. Read our victims' manifesto (PDF, 287kb).
If you agree with the principles outlined in the victims' manifesto, then you can pledge your support via email.
Briefing papers
The briefing papers outline the standout findings on disablist, homophobic, racist, religiously motivated hate crimes and gendered hostility. The areas covered include:
- The impact of being targeted
- Concerns about future victimisation
- The profile of offenders
- The reporting of hate crimes
- The value of support services supplied to victims
Briefing paper 1: Disablist hate crime (PDF, 174kb)
Briefing paper 2: Gendered hostility (PDF, 175kb)
Briefing paper 3: Homophobic hate crime (PDF, 171kb)
Briefing paper 4: Racist hate crime (PDF, 175kb)
Briefing paper 5: Religiously motivated hate crime (PDF, 175kb)