When you report a hate crime we will listen to you, give you support and your report will be investigated.

You will be contacted by a police officer, either:

• by phone
• in person
• or in the way you want them to get in touch

Police Scotland will work to find out more about what has happened. They will let you know what is happening.

If Police Scotland has enough evidence, the person responsible will be charged with the offence and reported to The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service get reports about crimes from the police and other reporting organisations.

It then decides what action to take, including whether to prosecute someone.

Prosecute means to officially accuse someone of committing a crime in a law court.

Evidence means information that could be provided to a court to see if someone is guilty or not guilty of a crime.

An offence is when a person commits a crime.

This means they do something that is against the law.

If there is not enough evidence we will still record your report as a hate incident and offer you support

It is important to still report hate incidents that are not a crime.

This helps us to know what is happening in Scotland.

When your case is with the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal service we will keep you up to date with what is happening

You can contact Police Scotland and report hate crime in these ways:

• by phoning 999 if it is an emergency or if you are in danger
• by phoning 101 if it is not an emergency
• in person at any police station
• by completing a hate crime reporting form at a Third Party Reporting Centre (staff at a Third Party Reporting Centre will contact the police for you)
• by texting 999 (you must register for this service. Text the word 'register' to 999. You will get a reply and you should then follow the instructions you are sent)
• using Contact Scotland-BSL
• using the Keep Safe Scotland App

There is also a British Sign Language video about Hate Crime