Research

We were commissioned by the University of Leicester to undertake research into the nature, scale and impact of harassment facing students in higher education. Through engagement with a large and diverse sample of university students and rigorous analysis of all forms of harassment, the study generated sector-leading evidence with recommended areas of focus to address harassment and to support those affected.

Read our report (PDF, 711kb)

Over a two-year period we conducted Britain’s biggest ever study of hate crime victimisation, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. The project uncovered new insights into the nature and extent of hate crime, and into the impact of these offences upon victims, families and wider communities.

Find out more about The Leicester Hate Crime Project.

In the months following the June 2016 EU referendum, the United Kingdom experienced an unprecedented surge in reports of hate crime. In excess of 14,000 hate crimes were recorded by police forces in England and Wales between July and September 2016, and similar 'spikes' were seen in the aftermath of recent terrorist attacks in Manchester and London. The escalation in levels of hate crime demonstrate that current approaches to hate crime are not working.

Our new report, which was commissioned by Amnesty International UK, is designed to reflect upon how far the UK has come in terms of developing a cohesive, victim-centred approach to hate crime and to recommend what further steps can be taken to ensure that victims do not suffer in silence, and that state organisations recognise and respond to factors which prevent people from accessing justice.

Read the full report (PDF, 630kb)

We were awarded a grant from the Equality and Human Rights Commission to lead a project that explored the reasons why lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are unwilling and/or reluctant to report hate crimes to the police or another relevant organisation. We used the findings to develop an evidence-based template of good practice to inform the wider delivery of new and existing hate crime reporting strategies.

Find out more about identifying barriers and solutions to hate crime under-reporting.

We have been commissioned by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire to lead a project designed to inform the development of a new hate crime strategy and victims’ support service. This research will generate much-needed knowledge on the emotional, physical and health support needs of hate crime victims, and we will use the findings to produce a set of recommendations that will improve existing hate crime policy and practice in Hertfordshire.

Find out more about recognising the support needs of hate crime victims.

Read the full report: Violence and hate speech against LGBTI people in Poland (PDF, 805kb)

This report provides a critical overview of state responses to violence and hate speech against LGBTI people in Poland, highlighting systemic legal and policy gaps, issues with law enforcement and judicial practices, and shortcomings in victim support services. It presents evidence of significant under reporting and under recording of anti-LGBTI hate crimes and offers recommendations for the Polish government to address these issues.

1. Scale and nature of anti-LGBTI hate crimes and hate speech

Poland’s official statistics on anti-LGBTI hate crimes are strikingly low compared to other European countries, with only 11 cases reported in 2022. However, civil society organisations’ reports and victimisation surveys indicate that many victims do not come  forward to the police, indicating severe underreporting and underrecording. This gap  suggests that the official data does not accurately reflect the true scale of anti-LGBTI violence. While police collect data on hate crimes, these statistics are not publicly available, and the prosecution services and judiciary do not track anti-LGBTI hate crimes at all. Surveys suggest that many LGBTI individuals in Poland refrain from reporting hate crimes due to a lack of trust in law enforcement, fear of discrimination, or belief that the police will not take action. Research shows that Poland has one of the highest rates of LGBTI individuals avoiding public displays of affection due to fear of violence, and many report feeling increasingly unsafe.

2. Legal gaps and inadequate policy responses

The Polish Criminal Code does not include sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics as protected statuses for hate crimes or hate speech. Consequently, homophobic and transphobic bias motives are often ignored in legal proceedings. While racist and xenophobic hate crimes are prosecuted ex officio, LGBTI hate crimes typically require victims to file private complaints, placing an undue burden on them. This lack of legal recognition perpetuates a culture of impunity, allowing anti-LGBTI violence and hate speech to go unpunished. Moreover, anti-LGBTI hate speech, including cases of incitement to hatred, discrimination, and violence, remains largely unaddressed by Polish law. Offensive and harmful rhetoric, whether online, in public spaces, or in the media, continues to escalate without legal repercussions. Incidents such as homophobic graffiti and hate-filled banners at public events have been documented but remain outside the scope of current hate speech legislation.

3. Law enforcement, judicial system, and victim support practices

Law enforcement agencies and the judiciary in Poland are inadequately prepared to handle anti-LGBTI hate crimes. While some police officers and prosecutors have undergone hate crime training, these programmes have not been formally evaluated, and their focus is predominantly on racist and xenophobic crimes. Victims of anti-LGBTI hate crimes often encounter officers and prosecutors who lack training and sensitivity towards LGBTI issues, resulting in under reporting and insufficient legal recourse. Additionally, judges frequently fail to recognise homophobic and transphobic motives, even in cases with clear bias elements. Victim support services in Poland are insufficient and fail to address the specific needs of LGBTI individuals. There are no state-funded victim support services specifically for LGBTI hate crime victims, leaving NGOs to fill the gap. However, these organisations face significant political and financial challenges, limiting their ability to provide adequate support. Without comprehensive legal and psychological assistance, many LGBTI victims are left without the resources they need to seek justice or recover from victimisation.The report concludes with recommendations for the Polish Government, including amending the Criminal Code to include SOGIESC as protected characteristics, improving data collection, ensuring proper case handling by the police and judicial system, and providing adequate victim support for LGBTI individuals. These measures are essential to addressing the systemic failures that currently leave LGBTI individuals without equal protection under the law.