Silent Victims No More: Exploring Factors Affecting LGBT Hate Crime Reporting in Leicester, UK

• In Event: Reporting and Recognizing Hate Crimes

Abstract

According to figures released in 2014, police across England and Wales recorded more than 4,000 homophobic and 300 transphobic hate crimes. These numbers pale in comparison to figures released after the completion of the 2013 Crime Survey of England and Wales, which report an estimated 39,000 sexual orientation and/or gender identity bias motivated crimes. This research explored factors contributing to reporting bias motivated victimization by members of the LGBT community in Leicester and Leicestershire. Conducting a secondary data analysis of interviews done by researchers with the Leicester Centre for Hate Studies, the stories of victimization were analyzed for themes directly related to reporting and non-reporting of bias motivated crime. Key factors were found to include: fear of being 'outed', apathy toward reporting and police service capabilities, and a sense that reporting was a waste of time. This research serves as a foundation on which research and policy to address under-reporting and non-reporting of LGBT hate crimes can be established. The ultimate intention of this project is to bring attention to the needs of a marginalized group in order to better serve their needs and address their safety and security in the larger population.

Author

• Dylan Waite, University of Leicester