No Place for Hate Crime - National Union of Students

Understanding hate incidents and fears of victimisation
knocks my self-esteem. There’s only a few people I
feel I can be myself completely around.”
“It’s almost like I have to continuously censor myself
so I don’t say the wrong thing in front of the wrong
type of people.”
“I don’t feel I can be myself on campus because of
the attitude of other people. I also feel foolish for
feeling this way.”
“[I] act in a certain way, [I] don’t dress too
outlandish – [I] basically pretend to be someone
else.”
“[I] act less of how I want to truly be.”
Despite these worries, students across our sample
had a limited understanding of when they should
report a hate incident, and to whom. Thirty-six per
cent did not believe they could report these incidents
to organisations other than the police and one in five
thought only hate incidents that constituted a criminal
offence should be reported at all.
Likewise, most students surveyed were not aware of
any hate crime services provided at their institution.
Sixty-four per cent of respondents did not know if their
university or college provides information about where
victims of hate incidents could go for help and support;
70 per cent were similarly not aware if their students’
union provides information, help or support.
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