What happens after you report a hate crime

Giving a statement

The police are committed to investigating incidents and may ask you to give a statement to help with this.

You don't have to go to a police station. The police can visit you where you feel most comfortable. It could be at home, school or work. You can discuss beforehand if the officer who takes the statement wears uniform or plain clothes.

Follow up meetings

If the police find and charge the offender, you may need to make further statements and come to the police station for an identification process. The police will support you throughout this process.

If the offender is caught

The police or the Crown Prosecution Service will decide if the person should be charged with an offence or offences. If they are, they will have to appear at court and plead guilty or not guilty.

Going to court

If they plead not guilty, the case will go to trial and you may have to give evidence against them. The police will support you through the process.

Read the Crown Prosecution Service's guidance on giving evidence.

Changing your mind

It's fine to change your mind. We would encourage you to make a report but we can still use the information you have given us to help us tackle hate crime.

If you change your mind after making a statement, there is a risk the court proceedings could be affected. They could be stopped altogether, continue without your evidence, or you might be required to give evidence in court.

We stand together against hate

Hate crime should never be accepted. We work with the Metropolitan Police Service, British Transport Police and City of London Police to help keep our network safe for all. Together, we investigate hate crimes on the public transport network, holding offenders to account and reassuring passengers that hate crime in any form is not tolerated.

Further information

How London's transport policing works.

Details of the Metropolitan Police's Safer Transport Teams.

Find out more about how we're keeping people safe.