Hate Incident Monitoring Project

This page gives information on the Hate Incident Monitoring Project (HIMP) established by Leicestershire County Council.

The Hate Incident Monitoring Project was launched in February 2007. Although it is led by the county council, it is a multi-agency initiative with a wide range of agencies making up the project's steering group.

The aim of the project is to encourage reporting of hate incidents across Leicestershire. All departments within Leicestershire County Council are classed as reporting centres and these support the project in bringing together and developing the effective reporting of incidents. This in turn records work undertaken across Leicestershire in tackling hate incidents.

By working with the Police, district councils, voluntary organisations and other agencies, the project has set up 33 reporting centres across Leicestershire, in addition to the County Council departments.

The HIMP allows you to complete their Hate Incident Report Form Online.

Have you been a victim of a hate incident?

The Hate Incident Monitoring Project has been set up by the County Council with partner agencies across Leicestershire, to encourage victims to speak out. This new initiative has a wider remit than the previous Racist Incident Common Monitoring Project.

Hate incidents could be physical, verbal or written abuse. They take many forms but are essentially about someone being targeted because they are believed to be different due to age, disability, gender identity, race, religion, belief or sexual orientation.

If you have been a victim or if you have witnessed or become aware of a hate incident, please tell us. By telling us we can find out more about these incidents which will help us to work with our partners to find ways to prevent them from happening in the future.

It is the perception that counts; if you think it is a hate incident, it is.

Some examples of hate incidents

Here are some examples of situations that may be classed as a hate incident:

• someone overhears language they think is racist,
• a person receives threatening letters which they feel have been motivated by their disability or
• a man leaving a gay bar may be verbally abused and perceive it was motivated by homophobia, whether or not he is gay.

Please note this list not exhaustive.