Discrimination is where someone treats you differently or unfairly because they think you are different to them. This might be because of:

• Age (actual or perceived)
• Disability
• Gender / gender identity
• Ethnic, racial, cultural or national origin
• Religious belief / non-belief
• Sexual orientation

These are known as “protected characteristics” under the Equality Act 2010. The Act makes it a crime to treat anyone differently because of these things.

Discriminatory abuse is particularly where this treatment is harassing, threatening or results in ill-treatment and / or harm.

Discriminatory abuse can overlap many other forms of abuse, which may make it more hidden.

What might it look like?

• Verbal abuse, derogatory remarks or inappropriate use of language related to a protected characteristic
• Denying access to communication aids, not allowing access to an interpreter, signer or lip-reader
• Harassment or deliberate exclusion on the grounds of a protected characteristic
• Poor quality service relating to a protected characteristic, or being refused access to a service
• Lack of disabled access

How might you recognise it?

• acts or comments motivated to harm and damage including inciting others to commit abusive acts
• lack of effective communication provision e.g. interpreters
• the adult being subjected to racist, sexist, ageist, gender-based abuse
• abuse specifically about their disability
• the person appears withdrawn and isolated
• the person expresses anger, frustration, fear or anxiety

Hate incidents are a form of discriminatory abuse.

A hate incident is any incident which is perceived by the person, or any other person as being motivated by prejudice or hatred in terms of the protected characteristics above.

Hate crimes are crimes committed against people because of those same differences.

Hate incidents / crime can be anything from name calling, physical attack, vandalism or steeling a person’s property, motivated by prejudice, hostility or hatred towards that individual because they are ‘different’. It may or may not be a crime and it may or may not be linked to a safeguarding concern. There are a number of ways to report a hate incident:

• In an emergency always phone 999
• Contact the police via email: enquiries@norfolk.pnn.police.uk or visit their website: norfolk.police.uk
• Going to any Norfolk County Council public building such as libraries and reporting it, where staff will be able to assist if needed
• Going to your district council, local police station or anywhere you see the ‘Hate Incident Reporting Place’ logo