October 28, 2025 | Incident and Crime Statistics , Hate Crime and Equality
Request Number: FOI/15889
Category: Organisational Information/Performance – Service Instructions
Subject: Hate Crime Information
Request and Answer:
Your request for information has now been considered. In respect of Section 1(1)(a) of the Act we can confirm that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) does hold some information to which your request relates and this is being provided to you.
We further consider some of the information you seek in question numbers 1, 2 and 5 is exempt by virtue of section 21 of FOIA and have detailed our rationale as to why this exemption applies.
We have also provided you with links to guidance issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office which we have followed in responding to your request.
Question 1
We want to explore how the UK hate crime sector has changed since the last request in 2022.
Is hate crime included in the police service's current policing plan? If yes, can you send us a pdf copy of the policing plan?
Answer 1
Yes, The Northern Ireland Policing Plan 2025-2030 and Annual Performance Plan 2025/2026 includes indicator 1.4 – ‘The Effectiveness in Tackling Hate Crime’, which scrutinises the PSNI’s performance in tackling hate crime and repeat victims of hate crime.
Please follow this link to access a copy of the policing plan - The Northern Ireland Policing Plan 2025-2030 and Annual Performance Plan 2025/26
Partial exemption
Section 17(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires the Police Service of Northern Ireland, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which:
(a) states that fact,
(b) specifies the exemption in question and
(c) states (if not otherwise apparent) why the exemption applies.
The exemption/s, as well as the factors the Department considered when deciding where the public interest lies, are listed below:
Section 21 - Information Reasonably Accessible by Other Means
The full text of exemptions can be found at www.legislation.gov.uk and further guidance on how they operate can be located on the Information Commissioners Office website www.ico.org.uk.
Section 21(1) – Information which is reasonably accessible to the applicant otherwise than under section 1 is exempt information.
Question 2
Does the police service have a separate hate crime plan/strategy? If yes can you send us a pdf copy of the hate crime plan/strategy?
Answer 2
Yes, PSNI has a Hate Crime Service Instruction.
Please follow this link to access a copy of the document - Hate Crime 25 April 2023.pdf
Partial exemption
Section 17(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires the Police Service of Northern Ireland, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which:
(a) states that fact,
(b) specifies the exemption in question and
(c) states (if not otherwise apparent) why the exemption applies.
The exemption/s, as well as the factors the Department considered when deciding where the public interest lies, are listed below:
Section 21 - Information Reasonably Accessible by Other Means
The full text of exemptions can be found at www.legislation.gov.uk and further guidance on how they operate can be located on the Information Commissioners Office website www.ico.org.uk.
Section 21(1) – Information which is reasonably accessible to the applicant otherwise than under section 1 is exempt information.
Question 3
Does the police service have a designated hate crime lead? If yes can you provide contact details (name and email) so we can contact them?
Answer 3
Yes, the PSNI Hate Crime Lead is Chief Superintendent Sue-Ann Steen, who can be contacted via [email protected]
Question 4
Does the police service facilitate or take part in any hate crime forums? If yes, can you list the names of the hate crime forums that the police service facilitates or takes part in.
Please advise if the forums are:
Local
Regional
National
Other
Answer 4
Yes, please see below:
Local –
Department of Justice - Hate Crime Delivery Group
Belfast City Council Migrant Forum
The PSNI Race Hate Crime Coordination Group
Building Community Cohesion Working Group (chaired by TEO).
Regional - North West Regional Hate Crime Co-Ordination Group
National - National Police Chiefs Council
Operation LESTE national group (anti-immigration sentiment protests and pro-immigration counter-protests)
National Community Cohesion Gold Group (community tensions across UK)
Question 5
Does the police service have a designated hate crime information page on its website? If yes, please can you provide the URL link?
Answer 5
Yes, please follow this link to access the page - Hate Crime | Police Service of Northern Ireland
Partial exemption
Section 17(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires the Police Service of Northern Ireland, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which:
(a) states that fact,
(b) specifies the exemption in question and
(c) states (if not otherwise apparent) why the exemption applies.
The exemption/s, as well as the factors the Department considered when deciding where the public interest lies, are listed below:
Section 21 - Information Reasonably Accessible by Other Means
The full text of exemptions can be found at www.legislation.gov.uk and further guidance on how they operate can be located on the Information Commissioners Office website www.ico.org.uk.
Section 21(1) – Information which is reasonably accessible to the applicant otherwise than under section 1 is exempt information.
Question 6
Does the police service have access to hate crime resources? If yes – please can you send us pdf copies of them?
List of resources:
- report cards
- leaflets
- posters
- badges
- pens
- t-shirts
- Other
Answer 6
List of resources:
- leaflets – yes, please see attached leaflets.
- posters – yes, but we do not have pdf copies of these available to provide.
- Other – crime prevention products can be available, but provision varies across the policing Districts. Examples of products that may be provided include doorbell cameras, CCTV, door braces and window/door alarms.
Question 7
Does the police service refer victims of hate crime to independent advice and support services? If yes, please advise which services:
- Crimestoppers
- Stop Hate UK
- Victim Support
- Victim Support Northern Ireland
- The Community Security Trust (National Organisation for Jewish victims)
- TELL MAMA (National Organisation for Muslim Victims)
- The Monitoring Group
- GATE Herts (A national reporting service)
- Galop (National organisation supporting LGBT+ victims)
- East European Resource Centre (EERC)
- Other – can you provide a list of independent advice and support services, the police service refers to.
Answer 7
We both refer and signpost hate crime victims to a range of organisations.
We refer victims, with their consent, to Victim Support NI (VSNI) and the Hate Crime Advocacy Service (HCAS). The Advocates can refer victims to other agencies, including VSNI and Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE).
The Victims Charter enables us to refer to VSNI and also Assist NI and the NSPCC, so victims may be referred to these organisations if appropriate. All victims of crime are referred to VSNI unless they actively opt out.
Crime Prevention Officers can refer victims to local schemes, but these differ in each policing District. Examples include TIER 3 & 4 schemes and the Home Security Scheme, which hate crime victims may qualify for depending on the circumstances.
We signpost victims to a range of support organisations, including the Hate Incident Practical Action Scheme. The organisations we signpost to varies by District and geographical location and is subject to change, so a full list cannot be provided. Signposting may also be provided through PCSPs and PSNI does not hold this information.
Crimestoppers – the PSNI actively encourages the use of Crime Stoppers, but we do not refer victims of crime or hate crime to Crimestoppers.
The Community Security Trust (National Organisation for Jewish victims)
TELL MAMA (National Organisation for Muslim Victims)
We share anonymised statistical information with the Community Security Trust and TELL MAMA in terms of hate experienced by the Jewish and Muslim communities in NI, but we don’t identify victims or refer victims to these organisations.
Other – This varies by policing District and will be subject to change so a comprehensive list cannot be provided. Signposting may also be provided through PCSPs and PSNI does not hold this information.
Question 8
Is the police service planning to participate in National Hate Crime Awareness Week 2025 (11-18 October 2025)? If yes, can you tell us what the police service is planning to do.
Answer 8
Yes. A range of engagements and events are planned across NI.
Question 9
Has the police service participated in pervious National Hate Crime Awareness weeks? If yes – please can you advice in which years the police service has taken part in the national week for:
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- plan to in 2025
Answer 9
- 2021 - Yes
- 2022 - Yes
- 2023 - Yes
- 2024 - Yes
- plan to in 2025 - Yes