Hate Crime

We understand the shock and horror of being a victim of a hate crime or incident and want you to get the much needed help and support as soon as possible.

We regularly speak to victims and signpost them to where they can report and seek help. Unfortunately at this current time we are unable to offer more than understanding and moral support but we work with over a third of the UK police authorities so that they have a better understanding of your experience.

The first place is always the police – it is important that they are aware that you have been a victim so they can report your experience. You can report a hate crime on the phone or online with the local police authority and nationally through the government’s True Vision reporting site. Many victims feel better when they have told someone – they want to be heard.

The police can refer to ‘Victims Support’ who can offer the support needed following a crime or incident. For more specialist hate crime focussed help Stop Hate UK offer a service in some areas of England.

Sylvia has been a member of the Cross Party Independent Hate Crime Advisory Group to the UK Government since 2010. This places her at the heart of consultation and decision making. This role allows for the opportunity to discuss the issues around alternative hate crime at the most senior level.

Sophie: The Face of Hate Crime

Sophie's murder was treated as a Hate Crime by Judge Russell who sentenced the murderers accordingly. Under the current UK Hate Crime Legislation (Section 146), as the motivation behind the murder was hateful, he was able to use his discretion to class it as a Hate Crime.

We are working to have "Alternative Subcultures" or "Lifestyle and Dress Code" added to the reportable Hate Crime strands to ensure that it is not a discretionary option but equal to the existing strands which are:

• Race
• Religion
• Disability
• Homophobia
• Transgender

The Perpetrators

Brendan Haris, Ryan Herbert, Joe Hulme, Danny Hulme, Danny Mallet

Following Sophie’s death on the 24th August 2007, five teenage boys were charged with her murder and attack on Robert, however on the first day of the trail in March 2008, Ryan Herbert pleaded “Guilty” to Sophie’s murder and Brendan Harris pleaded “Not Guilty” and was sent to trial. The murder charges were dropped on the remaining three – Joseph and Daniel Hulme and Daniel Mallet as all five had pleaded guilty to Section 18 Assault (with intent)

After a two week trial Harris was found guilty by the jury at Preston Crown Court.

At the sentencing on 28th April 2008, Judge Russell gave the teenagers indefinite sentences for public protection (IPP) as “dangerous” offenders and treated it as a hate crime using Section 146.

The sentences were:

• Ryan Herbert 16 years 3 months (later reduced by 9 months on appeal)
• Brendan Harris 18 years
• Joseph Hulme – 5 years 10 months
• Daniel Hulme – 5 years 10 months
• Daniel Mallett – 4 years 4 months

Derby Homes and SOPHIE Hate Crime Partnership

Derby Homes Chief Executive Maria Murphy Invited Sylvia and The Sophie Lancaster Foundation to work with them and their colleagues to create a week of Hate Crime Awareness that would make a huge statement that hate crime would not be tolerated in Derbyshire and that all partners in the police, education, council and housing would work collectively to create safer communities for all.

Here is a short film with all the professionals involved in the hugely successful project that culminated in Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner announcing they would add Alternative Subcultures as a monitored strand of hate crime.