Discriminatory Abuse

Discriminatory abuse exists when values, beliefs or culture result in a misuse of power that denies opportunity to some groups or individuals. It can be a feature of any form of abuse of an adult, but can also be motivated because of age, gender, sexuality, disability, religion, class, culture, language, race or ethnic origin.

It can result from situations that exploit a person’s vulnerability by treating the person in a way that excludes them from opportunities they should have as equal citizens, for example, education, health, justice and access to services and protection.

The Social Care Institute of Excellence (SCIE) list the following types of discriminatory abuse:

• Unequal treatment based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex or sexual orientation (known as ‘protected characteristics’ under the Equality Act 2010)
• Verbal abuse, derogatory remarks or inappropriate use of language related to a protected characteristic
• Denying access to communication aids, not allowing access to an interpreter, signer or lip-reader
• Harassment or deliberate exclusion on the grounds of a protected characteristic
• Denying basic rights to healthcare, education, employment and criminal justice relating to a protected characteristic
• Substandard service provision relating to a protected characteristic

Hate Crime

A Hate Crime is any behavior that someone thinks was caused by hostility, prejudice or hatred of:

• Disability (including physical impairments, mental health problems, learning disabilities, hearing and visual impairment)
• Gender identity (includes people who are transgender, transsexual or transvestite)
• Race, skin colour, nationality, ethnicity or heritage
• Religion, faith or belief (including people without a religious belief)
• Sexual orientation (people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or heterosexual)

See more information about hate crime by clicking on the tab on the left.