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Hate Incident & Hate Crime Policy

Baltic stands for zero tolerance of racism, prejudice and hate crime. We will challenge and report hate crime towards our visitors, staff and artists.

  • Our policy at Baltic is not to let a hate incident or hate crime go unreported if witnessed within our building or local area. We can also support you to report a hate incident or hate crime, or report on your behalf with your consent.
  • Anyone who displays racism, prejudice or abusive behaviour towards visitors or staff will be made to leave Baltic building.
  • If you have experienced racism or prejudice, or encountered this toward other visitors on your visit please report it to Baltic Crew. Our staff are trained to support you.
  • Hate crimes are any crimes that are targeted at a person because of hostility or prejudice towards that person’s disability, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, appearance or gender/transgender identity. This can be committed against a person or property.
  • A victim does not have to be a member of the group at which the hostility is targeted. In fact, anyone could be a victim of a hate crime. You can see the shared definition of 'Monitored Hate Crime' online at report-it.org.uk
  • A hate incident is any incident which the victim, or anyone else, thinks is based on someone’s prejudice towards them because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or because they are transgender. Hate incidents can feel like crimes to those who suffer them and often escalate to crimes or tension in a community. Not all hate incidents will amount to criminal offences, but it is equally important that these are re ported and recorded by the police.

Baltic Reporting & Support

  • Baltic staff will ensure hate incidents and hate crimes are logged appropriately both internally on record and externally with the local police or local authorities.
  • Our Visitor Experience staff are trained to support you in reporting hate crime and hate incidents.
  • If a victim seeks support to report it themselves we will support them to do this.
  • If a victim does not feel they want to report an incident or crime themselves, we can report it for them, with their consent.
  • Please speak to a member of Baltic staff in the building, call 0191 478 1810 or e-mail myexperience@baltic.art if you have any questions or need any assistance in connection with anything connected to experiencing a hate incident or hate crime at Baltic.

If you have been affected by a hate incident or hate crime you can contact:

Northumbria Police

In emergencies always please call 999.

In a non-emergency situation you can text message to 07786 200 814.

In a non-emergency, for people who are D/deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired text 07786 200 815 or textphone 18001 101.

Gateshead Council

The Community Safety team at Gateshead Council can be contacted by:

Telephone: 0191 433 2701 (Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am-5.00pm) 

Letter at Community Safety Team, Gateshead Council, Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead NE8 1HH Further information can be found on Gateshead Council website: www.gateshead.gov.uk/hatecrime

Third Party Reporting Mechanisms 

We understand that it is sometimes difficult to go to the police about hate crime. If you are a victim of hate crime or know someone who is, there are various support agencies in place to support and offer guidance. A really useful list of organisation that can help be found at: www.report-it.org.uk/organisations_that_can_help

Citizens Advice Gateshead

In Gateshead, Citizens Advice Gateshead is a registered Hate Crime Reporting Centre and can report a hate crime on your behalf if you don’t feel you want to go to the police directly. No hate incident is too small to report; someone does not have to physically assault you to commit a hate crime. Call 0808 278 7902 e-mail advice@citizensadvicegateshead.org.uk 

The telephone number will be answered through a national queuing system. If you are in Gateshead and would prefer to receive a call back please e-mail advice@citizensadvicegateshead.org.uk or use the contact form at citizensadvicegateshead.org.uk/contact-us/

Stop Hate UK

In Newcastle Upon Tyne, hate incidents and hate crimes can be reported through Stop Hate UK www.stophateuk.org/talk-to-us/

24 hour helpline: 0800 138 1625

Text: 07717 989 025

Email: talk@stophateuk.org

Website: www.stophateuk.org

Stop Hate UK, PO Box 484, Leeds LS7 9BZ

Galop (National organisation supporting LGBT+ victims)

GALOP launched a national Helpline for LGBT+ victims in February 2021.

Available 10-4pm weekdays on 0207 704 2040 or e-mail hatecrime@galop.org.uk or visit www.galop.org.uk

LGBT Foundation

The LGBT Foundation provide a wide range of support services to lesbian, gay, bi and trans people. The LGBT Foundation is an information and helpline, and a Third Party Hate Crime Reporting Centre. This means that you can report a hate incident or hate crime you experienced to them, and anonymously if you wish. Call 0345 3 30 30 30 or visit www.lgbt.foundation

Victim Support

Victim Support is the national charity giving free and confidential help to victims of crime, witnesses, their family, friends and anyone else affected. They are not a government agency or part of the police and you don't have to report a crime to the police to get their help. You can call any time after the crime has happened, whether it was yesterday, last week or several years ago.

Victim Supportline: 0808 16 89 111

Email: supportline@victimsupport.org.uk

Website: www.victimsupport.org.uk

Address: Hallam House, 56 – 60 Hallam Street, London W1W 6JL