2018 participants
Lucy Willis
A hate crime is an offence perceived by either the victim or witness as being motivated by hostility or intolerance; often, hate crime is seen as a means of preserving the gendered and racialised social ordering of Western culture. Thus, motivation for hate crime is deeply rooted in both the structural and cultural framework within which peoples interact. Hate crimes are a direct attack on who a person is and, subsequently, are found to have a more profound and damaging impact on its victims than other crimes. Understanding the extensive damage to both individual victims of hate crime and the wider community reminds us of the importance and urgency required in tackling these incidents.
The ultimate aim of this research project has been to gain an in-depth understanding of hate crime in Tyne and Wear and create a set of recommendations for a poster campaign that will be distributed across public transport in the North East to continue tackling the problem. Liaising with policymakers in the region, using empirical data and meeting with those targeted by hate crime has informed this project.
Funding source: Newcastle University
Supervisor: Dr Ruth McAreavey