Hate Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour
Hate crime and acts of anti-social behaviour are two separate issues. Victims often mistake the two and report it to the authorities as anti-social behaviour. The basic rule is: hate crime is behaviour committed by people who want a particular person, family, community or religious group to suffer fear and distress. These individuals or groups have specifically been singled out because of their identity, sexual orientation, religious belief or ethnic background.
Anti-social behaviour is general nuisance acted by irresponsible individuals within the community but there is no specific focus on the victim's personal identity.