Library’s promotion of “hate crime”

[Chocolatemice]

West Midlands, where it is apparently impossible to keep police stations open. Went to Blackheath library and came across a poster saying it is a designated point for reporting hate crimes.

Am I the only woman who would now find that library designated a dangerous place to be?

What is so special about “hate crimes” that they have specially designated places to report them, and yet people have nowhere to go about real crimes?

Am I the only woman who would now find that library designated a dangerous place to be?

Given sex is the only thing not covered by hate crime criteria then yes I would now feel that library was the least safe place for me to go..

How does being able to report hate crimes make the library unsafe?

'Hate crimes' are real crimes: they are actual crimes that are motivated by hate. As such should be reported to the police who should investigate and if evidence is found taken to court who should weigh the evidence to decide if an actual crime has taken place or not.

? How so? The nearest police station to that library is 3.8 miles away.

Why would a library now be unsafe if victims can go there to report hate crimes? It’s not for the criminals to go to.....

And I bet the training staff have received for that amounts to the square root of fuck all. Or it’s a teeny tiny little drop-in run by police if you’re lucky, some other underpaid frontline officer if not.

Eh?
Why would anyone report a crime to a library?
Surely a crime is a police matter rather than a library matter?

Hate crime is not just about the victims ut can be reported by anyone who feels offended even if it wasnt aimed at them nor taken in an offeded way by said victim.

Its probably not the best idea to have a public place where there will he children potentially the venue for arguments

Do they define hate crimes? Bet wrong think is included and misogyny ignored.

How upside down is that, Sarah? The “victim” can be fine with some behaviour but any passing random can be offended on their behalf??

This is how the West Midlands PCC defines hate crimes:

And sex Is conveniently left off the list. So everyone is free to call.you a fucking bitch in public

taken to court who should weigh the evidence to decide if an actual crime has taken place or not
If the police are unsure what constitutes “an actual crime” they shouldn’t be wasting manpower investigating. They’re not short of real live ones to be getting on with.

SarahTancredi, 74NewStreet, as Aesopfable correctly said, hate crimes are conventional crimes with an additional element of hostility towards certain protected characteristics. Victimless prosecution isn't unique to hate crimes. For example, a serial domestic abuser with an apologetic spouse may be deemed at risk of causing more serious harm to their partner or members of the public, which requires victimless prosecution to mitigate.

But gronky

Tweets not aimed at Individuals are now considered hate speak/hate crime and should police decide to log it as a none crime it still can potentially be placed on your record

Why the hell are police logging non crimes whilst simultaneously telling burglary / mugging victims that they have no change of their assault being investigated; just take a crime number for the insurance and get back to us if it happens again?
By definition a non crime is not something that needs any sort of police intervention.

Eh? As a woman, why would I feel unsafe suddenly in a library because they say they're saying they won't tolerate abuse?
Surely I'd only suddenly feel unsafe if I felt I was being curtailed in my "right to free speech" ie not harassing others in the way of "telling it like it is?"
I presume if anyone was harassing me I'd still be able to go and tell staff.

If anyone is not concerned about the ramifications of this for free speech you should read up on Harry the Owl.

There doesn't need to be a victim or any evidence for this to happen

SarahTancredi, there have been 17 cases since 2017 where charges have been made based upon 'online hate crimes'. Based on my understanding of the law (which is, admittedly, not comprehensive), it's only possible to bring a prosecution based upon direct threats against a group or individual (e.g. all x's should be harmed) rather than saying nasty things about them (e.g. all x's smell funny and listen to silly music). If you're aware of a prosecution based upon the latter, could you please give some details?

As for reports that don't lead to prosecution being placed on your record, I believe this is for the purpose of establishing trends if future offences occur. If there's a case of it impacting a security check (for example) could you please give some details on that too? Provided it's not disclosed, I don't see an issue with police keeping records, I had an issue a few years ago with a man who kept entering my front garden (stepping over the fence) when I was away from home. It was reassuring that the police kept a record of the incidents in case something more serious happened.

You could tell staff. But a sex specific crime such as telling you to get your tits out you fucking slag is not a hate crime.

So it wont count for much

But a sex specific crime such as telling you to get your tits out you fucking slag is not a hate crime.

It is, however, a crime under the Equality Act 2010 (harassment).

Hate crime covers everything from this to complete non events.

I don't see why having a desk to report hate crime in the library would make you feel unsafe.

Hate crimes and hate incidents aren't the same thing. The former has to include an actual crime and the latter does not.

If there's a case of it impacting a security check (for example) could you please give some details on that too?

Look at the Harry The Owl case that has been all over media for ages now:
blogs.spectator.co.uk/2019/01/is-it-now-a-crime-to-like-a-poem-about-transgenderism/
www.crowdjustice.com/case/challenging-thought-crime/

He generically liked a limerick on twitter and this was reported as a "hate incident" by a complete stranger. He was then called by a Police Officer to "check his thinking", despite the Officer confirming there had been no crime. This may end up staying on his record as a "hate incident" which would be disclosed on any future DBS check: www.faircop.org.uk/press

Exactly gronky, it'd still be a crime and I could report it as such.
I just fail to see how making others feel safe too by being able to report their harassment makes it suddenly more unsafe for me.
I could still report harassment too.