The role of the police

The police are at the forefront of the criminal justice system and often serve as the initial point of contact for many victims of hate crimes. Their primary responsibilities include crime prevention and the investigation and detection of criminal behavior. This role is particularly crucial in the context of hate speech and hate crime, due to the profound psychological impact on victims, the potential for such crimes to escalate, and the broader effects on the community. Preventing repeat victimization is also vital; if not addressed, hate crimes can escalate into more severe criminal behavior. Ineffective police responses can undermine police competence and damage community relations (Perry & Franey, 2017).

Citation

• Perry, J., & Franey, P. (2017). Policing Hate Crime against LGBTI Persons: Training for a Professional Police Response. Council of Europe.