Hate Crimes Against Students

Abstract

Analyses of hate crimes against students have been a significant feature of the academic hate crime literature in the United States since the early 1990s, with a number of studies examining racial, ethnic, religious, homophobic and gender-related incidents on campus. In contrast, there has to date been little attention to ‘campus climate’ in the United Kingdom or Europe, despite increasing attention to the safety of international students globally. However, there is good reason to consider students as a unique victim population within hate crime studies. This chapter will explore the impact of hate crime research on the development of US and UK policy in this area, and use recent survey findings to examine the gaps in understanding the exact nature of the hate crime suffered by student victim groups in the UK. It will argue that much more research needs to be undertaken within the UK campus context, which builds upon the extensive 2010/11 hate crime survey conducted by the National Union of Students, before a fully-formed picture of UK campus victimisation can be created and effective policy formulated.

Keywords: hate crime, students, racism, homophobia, policy, policing