It depends if you class homophobic/transphobic bullying as a hate crime when it happens at school. You will always have to use your own judgement on such matters. Some police forces have LGBT police liaison officers who have skill and knowledge in the area. Some forces are quite proactive and will work with schools and even run classes on preventing all hate crimes. Wandsworth in London do so and have made a video. Remember the police define a hate crime as “any incident, which may or may not constitute a criminal offence, which is perceived by the victim or any other person, as being motivated by prejudice or hate.’ (our emphasis)
Which scenario features a homophobic hate crime? Why?
Scenario 1
Tuesday. 4pm. Your school. A 15yrd old boy in the playground is pushed to the floor by another boy and punched in the face. The perpetrator shouts, “Faggot, Poof!” repeatedly. The police are not called. It is dealt with as a homophobic incident and the parents are informed
Scenario 2.
Tuesday. 4pm. Town centre. A 15yrd old boy in the street is pushed to the floor by another boy and punched in the face. The perpetrator shouts, “Faggot, Poof!” repeatedly. The police are called. It is dealt with as a homophobic incident and the parents are informed.
People given these scenarios at first do not think scenario 1 is a hate crime. However they are exactly the same incident except the location of the attack. One is in school. The other isn’t. Take another look.
Scenario 1
Tuesday. 4pm. Your school. A 15yrd old boy in the playground is pushed to the floor by another boy and punched in the face. The perpertrator shouts, “Faggot, Poof!” repeatedly. The police are not called. It is dealt with as a homophobic incident and the parents are informed
Scenario 2.
Tuesday. 4pm. Town centre. A 15yrd old boy in the street is pushed to the floor by another boy and punched in the face. The perpetrator shouts, “Faggot, Poof!” repeatedly. The police are called. It is dealt with as a homophobic incident and the parents are informed.
How would you have dealt with each scenario? Is it any less serious a crime because the attack happened in school? How many schools, or teachers would even class scenario 1 as crime?
