The University of Bristol is committed to providing a positive experience for all students and staff. We believe that bullying, harassment, assault and discrimination are never acceptable.
What is a hate crime?
A hate crime is an action or behaviour that is motivated by hostility towards a protected characteristic. These are age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership or pregnancy and maternity.
Anyone can be a victim of hate crime. You do not have to be a member of the group the hostility is aimed at. For example, you could be called a religious slur without being a member of that religious group.
Immediate help
- Are you in immediate danger? If you are in immediate danger or seriously injured call 999 (or 112 from a mobile).
- Find a safe space. If an incident has just happened, try and find somewhere you feel safe. If you are at the University you can call University Security on 0117 331 1223 or go to your nearest University building and ask someone to phone Security for you.
Support for students
- You can use the Report and Support system to report your concerns or speak to an Adviser from the University’s Student Wellbeing or Residential Life Services for advice and support. Contact Wellbeing Access to do this.
- The University has a range of wellbeing support. If you are not sure who to contact, you can speak to an Adviser from the University’s Student Wellbeing or Residential Life Services for advice and support. Contact Wellbeing Access to do this.
- Have an informal conversation with the Student Complaints Officer (student-complaints@bristol.ac.uk, +44117 394 1820) or the Bristol SU Academic Advice service.
- Consider submitting extenuating circumstances if your studies have been or are being affected.
Support for staff members
- Talk to your line manager. Particularly if your work has been/is being affected.
- Have an informal conversation with a Trades Union representative (UCU, UNISON, or UNITE), or ask your HR Operations team for advice.
- University support services for staff wellbeing and mental health.
Other sources of support
- Stand Against Racism and Inequality (SARI) provides support for victims of any type of hate crime in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and Somerset. SARI can also talk to you about options for reporting hate crime and accessing specialist support.
- Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Services. A group of six local organisations, including SARI, working to support victims of hate crime and discrimination.
- Stop Hate UK. A national organisation working to challenge all forms of hate crime and discrimination, based on any aspect of an individual’s identity. Stop Hate UK provides independent, confidential and accessible reporting and support for victims, witnesses and third parties.
- Tell MAMA supports victims of anti-Muslim hate and is a public service which also measures and monitors anti-Muslim incident.
- True Vision. The official police website for hate crime, including how to recognise and report a hate crime.
- Victim Support help anyone who has been the victim of a crime. They can support you coping with the after-effects of crime and help with reporting to the police.
Reporting for students and staff members
- Report and Support. Staff and students can report an incident anonymously using the University’s Report and Support system.
- To the police. You can report a crime by calling the non-emergency number, 101, or online.
- Make a formal complaint using the University’s Acceptable Behaviour Policy (for students) or to your HR Operations team (for staff)