You need to leave your home because of hate crime or harassment

You need to leave your home because of hate crime or harassment

What you can do and who you can contact if you need to leave your home because of hate crime or harassment

What is Hate Crime

Hate crimes are carried out against someone because of who they are or who someone thinks they are, based on their:

  • race
  • religion
  • sexuality
  • disability
  • gender 

Hate Crime can be:

  • a physical attack, like hitting you
  • threatening behaviour such as verbal abuse or rude gestures
  • damage to  your property such as vandalism, graffiti or arson 
  • offensive letters or text messages
  • offensive leaflets or posters
  • getting others to carry out hate crimes

If you need to leave your home now

If hate crime is making you feel unsafe and you need to leave your home immediately you could try asking friends or family if you can stay with them. It’ll give you some time to work out what you’re going to do next.

If you’re a woman, you can call Next Link. They help women affected by abuse and violence to move to safe accommodation. 

Contact us 

You can call us on 0117 352 6800:

  • between 9am and 4pm: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
  • between 10am and 4pm: Wednesday

or come to our Citizen Service Point.

If we think it’s not safe for you to stay where you’re living because of hate crime, and you have nowhere else to go, you might be offered emergency accommodation. You’ll be able to stay there while we work with you to resolve your housing problem.

Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Service 

Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Service can give you practical ideas, emotional support and legal advice. The service is free and confidential.

Call 0800 171 2272. This is a 24 hour freephone number.

Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Service includes:

If you’re a council tenant

If you’re a council tenant or the person responsible for the hate crime is a council tenant, you can report it to the Estate Management Service.

Make your home safer 

You can make your home safer to live in by ‘target hardening’. This is when the police come to your home and make adjustments to try and make it safer
It can include:

  • window and door locks
  • door chains 
  • spy holes
  • fire proof letter boxes

Your landlord will need to agree to any work being done.

If you’re interested in target hardening, contact the Police. They’ll give you advice about whether or not target hardening is right for you.