ALTERNATIVE SUBCULTURE HATE CRIME SURVEY

Today we are launching the findings of our hate crime survey.

The results make stark reading:

• 73% of alternative subculture hate crime is not reported;
• 27% of those subjected to hate crime have experienced suicidal feelings;
• 80% of respondents experience at least one form of hate crime on a regular or occasional basis.

In 2022, the Sophie Lancaster Foundation conducted the largest survey ever undertaken to find out how hate crime is affecting the daily lives of alternative people. Sixteen years after Sophie died, we still get emails and calls every week about bullying, harassment and assaults. Parents write in to say, “I’m worried my child is going to be another Sophie”. We created a steering group with top academics and hate crime experts to gather empirical data showing the true effects of hate crime on the alternative community.

The Law Commission stated in their Hate Crime Review, published in December 2021, that there was no evidence that people from alternative subcultures were being targeted for hate crime and there was no need to extend protection this this group. Well, the evidence is here.

What are people experiencing?

• 71% have been regularly or occasionally verbally abused
• 87% have been threatened or harassed in person
• 56% have been physically attacked

How does it make them feel?

• 84% Made me feel anxious
• 69% Made me avoid certain areas or routes
• 37% Made me change my appearance/the way I dress
• 27% Made me feel suicidal
• 27% Made me want to move from my home

What is the situation with Hate Crime Reporting?

• 73% of respondents have never reported their hate crime
• 29% said they didn’t think anyone would take it seriously
• 13% stated they did not know who to speak to
• 12% said nobody could have done anything to help

You can read the findings of the full Alternative Subculture Hate Crime Survey here and take a look at the Sophie Lancaster Foundation Commentary, which outlines the background to the survey and our commitment to do all we can to change the situation. Our Commentary explains in more detail what needs to happen next, including the development of stronger partnerships with the police and justice system and consultation with the alternative community on what needs to be done to encourage and support hate crime reporting.

This is huge news, as it is the first time that this data has been truly quantified.  The survey clearly reveals the levels of abuse, harassment and violence that people are subjected to because of their subcultural status. It absolutely makes the case why alternative subculture hate crime should be treated in exactly the same way as the monitored strands.

We know so many people find joy, community and genuine life affirmation from being part of an alternative subculture and to be demonised, harassed and victimised for no more than being yourself is appalling. It is even harder when people who are in a position to help, are influenced by the same negative stereotyping of alternative people and quote the victims innocent ‘choices’ and not the perpetrator’s actions.

We will continue to consult the community in our efforts to improve the situation. If you suffer from Hate Crime, please do report it; our Commentary document has the details of who to contact. Thank you for the trust you place in us, we are always humbled at your love and support.

The Sophie Team

…

Thanks to those from the hate crime sector and to academic partners who have supported us in this research –
Professor Jon Garland and Moslem Boushehrian, the University of Surrey; Mike Ainsworth, SLF Trustee and National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Independent Advisory Group on Hate Crime; Dr Steve Minton, University of Plymouth; Professor Neil Chakraborti, Centre for Hate Studies, University of Leicester; Rose Simkins, Stop Hate UK; Kari Berg and Nik Carlsson, RTSI, (Right to Subcultural Identity, Sweden).

The Sophie Lancaster Foundation is proud to be launching our first FREE National Hate Crime Awareness Week secondary school resource!

National Hate Crime Awareness Week takes place from the 14th to 21st October 2023, starting a national campaign to bring people together across the UK to advocate against all forms of hate crime and make communities a safer place to be.

The resource contains an assembly presentation and accompanying brochure, covering all angles of hate crime, hate incidents, reporting hate and hateful behaviours in and around school. Feel free to download and if you do use our resource, please let us know by using the hashtag #SLFHCAW23

We have decided to create a space on our website dedicated to our supporters who are no longer with us, and it was their wish or that of their families to raise funds in memoriam for the Foundation.

Currently on the page, there is Jake “Mettle” Ettle-Isles. Jake was well known and well loved in the metal community, having even performed at Bloodstock Festival. Jake’s latest project, Cybervoid, had a new EP on the horizon which his bandmates decided to release and donate all proceeds to the Foundation

On the page, there is also Marie Windridge, a long term supporter of the Foundation and avid Download Festival goer. The year she passed, her friend attended the festival, holding Marie’s crutch high in the air amidst the crowd

Please take a moment to read the page and tributes. Jake’s fundraiser is live now, so check that out too. Thank you all so much, once again we are so touched…

https://www.sophielancasterfoundation.com/in-memoriam/

It is the start of a brand-new academic year, which brings magnificent opportunities to make a genuine difference within our schools! 🖤

Our Autumn Term Train the Trainer course can ignite the spark of positive classroom culture, respect towards difference and a new personal perspective that will leave a lasting impression with each academic year to come. The course is delivered over two twilight sessions, each lasting 2-hours, equipping professionals who work with young people with the skills and knowledge they need to help students unpick their own assumptions and develop greater critical thinking skills through S.O.P.H.I.E. workshops in their organisation.

The first session takes place on Thursday 19th October 2023, followed by the second session on Thursday 2nd November 2023, from 16:30 until 18:30.

Places on our course are priced at £400 per delegate, this includes the S.O.P.H.I.E. boxed resource and an optional third follow up session to share feedback and thoughts after you have delivered your first workshop sessions. Our Autumn Train the Trainer course is available to book now, with limited places! If you would like to book a place on the course, please fill in our train the trainer booking form here or email education@sophielancasterfoundation.com for more information.

If you are interested in booking a train the trainer event for multiple staff your organisation, please email education@sophielancasterfoundation.com to discuss the training event further. We hope to see you there! 😊

Well, we are feeling the love, aren’t we? We are so grateful for all your wonderful messages of support and affection. It feels amazing to know you have our backs, you know, absolutely, that we have yours 🖤

We have news! The logistical and staff issues have been resolved and we can now be in the Arena. This makes a huge difference as we get to see as many of you lovely people as we can. So it looks like we are back on! 🤘

Thank you for everything you do to support us.

If you are not at Download, new S.O.P.H.I.E. merchandise can be purchased online. Everything is available to pre-order and will be in stock by the start of June. Our merchandise sales do keep us going and enable us to keep spreading the word, so please support us if you can.

It’s true to say we were a little bit teary last night reading all your lovely words. Our community is truly the best. We will keep doing all we can to support you. Together we are SOPHIE, together we are stronger ✊🖤

https://sophielancasterfoundation.backstreetmerch.com/en-gb

Calling all Weirdos, Moshers and Freaks who fancy a real challenge!

We’ve got our hands on 5 tickets for Tough Mudder and we’re looking for keen individuals or groups to represent and raise funds for the Sophie Lancaster Foundation.

How amazing would it be if we could bring the metal to the mud!

The tickets we purchased grant you entry into any 5K Tough Mudder event taking place this year. We would like to ask that all participants raise a minimum of £100 for the Foundation.

The events take place all over the country on various weekends, outlined below. Please ensure you sign up for one with enough time to fundraise.

MIDLANDS – 24 & 25 JUNE 2023
MANCHESTER – 15 & 16 JULY 2023
YORKSHIRE – 29 & 30 JULY 2023
SOUTH WEST – 12 AUGUST 2023
NORTH WEST – 9 & 10 SEPTEMBER 2023
LONDON SOUTH – 23 & 24 SEPTEMBER 2023

If you think you’re up for the challenge, get in touch with us via enquiries@sophielancasterfoundation.com

In this diverse world, our message is more important now than ever. Our work within the community is vital. We need you to help us and be the change this world needs. To work towards stamping out prejudice, hatred and intolerance everywhere – for good

Donate here: https://www.sophielancasterfoundation.com/donate

Sylvia always said, “We have the best supporters in the world,” and we could not agree more. If every one of our supporters gave us just £1, we can help change the world.

Together we are S.O.P.H.I.E – please help us by donating and sharing this video

Fifteen years after Sophie Lancaster was brutally kicked to death for being a goth, we are still discussing the prevalence of hate crime against people from alternative sub-cultures.

In late 2018 the government asked the Law Commission to undertake a wider and more in-depth review of the hate crime laws than previously undertaken. A key question was to examine whether any further characteristics should be added to the current five strands which are…

Race
Religion
Sexual Orientation
Disability
Transgender Identity

In December 2021, the recommendation came back that alternative sub-cultures should not be added to the list of monitored strands of hate crime. One of the reasons it failed was that there wasn’t enough evidence that criminal targeting of this group was prevalent.

There was not “a strong demonstrable need to extend protection to this group.”

We have so many phone calls and emails telling us about the abuse, harassment, and appalling violence that people have suffered, where the only motivation has been their sub-cultural identity or appearance.

Fifteen years after Sophie’s murder, we are asking what has changed?

If there is not enough data that targeting alternative sub-cultures is prevalent, then we will gather our own. We have developed a questionnaire to find out how the alternative community is being affected by Hate Crime. (A Hate Crime is any criminal offence that is motivated by hostility and prejudice towards a person’s identity or perceived identity.)  We ask about the type of incident and if you have reported a hate crime, then what your experience of that was.

So please, help us to help you and fill in the questionnaire, let you friends and family know about it and together we are stronger.

THIS SURVEY IS NOW CLOSED

Dedicated to Sylvia Lancaster, founder of The Sophie Lancaster Foundation, who suddenly passed away on 12 April 2022.

Sylvia Lancaster came into the public eye, following the brutal murder of her daughter Sophie in August 2007. Sophie and her partner were Goths (although they would not have necessarily defined themselves in this way) and were attacked just because they looked different. Sophie’s injuries were so severe that she died thirteen days after the senseless attack.

Sylvia had been a youth worker for over twenty years, working with young people aged 13 to 25 as an intensive adviser; providing support for those experiencing teenage pregnancy, drug dependency and emotional and educational issues. Through her training, she recognised Sophie’s attack as a hate crime and wanted the perpetrators to be sentenced accordingly. Sylvia was always grateful that Judge Anthony Russell QC who presided over the trial, recognised the crime for what it was.

Judge Russell said “This was a terrible case which has shocked and outraged all who have heard about it. At least wild animals, when they hunt in packs, have a legitimate reason for so doing, to obtain food. You have none and your behaviour on that night degrades humanity itself”.

Following Sophie’s death, Sylvia was determined that she would speak up for Sophie and for all alternative subcultures – recognising the intolerance and often violent prejudice they suffer, all because they are simply being who they are and true to themselves.

Following the murder trial, Sylvia set up the Sophie Lancaster Foundation as a lasting legacy to Sophie and it was registered as a charity in 2009. It challenges prejudice and intolerance through creative and challenging outreach work with diverse audiences in schools, universities, community groups and in young offender institutions and prisons. The Foundation also works extensively with the police and justice system on issues such as victim impact and recognising and recording alternative subculture hate crime. Sylvia was convinced that current legislation is insufficient and needed to be extended to include attacks on people from alternative subcultures.

Campaigning nationally and internationally, Sylvia raised awareness of the Foundation and its work and was guest lecturer at a number of UK universities. For many years, Sylvia was a member of the Government’s Independent Advisory Group on Hate Crime.

Sylvia was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2014 for her work in reducing hate crime and community cohesion. She was also awarded honorary doctorates by the University of Bolton (2018) and University of Surrey (2019).

For those that knew her, Sylvia was a formidable woman with fierce determination and desire for social justice. She was determined to make a difference and bullish enough to take on the establishment. Her legacy is the Sophie Lancaster Foundation; we remember a young woman, whose life was cut short by violence and in whose name we challenge prejudice and hate and work to increase tolerance and respect for others.

She will be very much missed by friends and family and thousands more supporters from around the world. She was a one off and a truly remarkable woman. There aren’t many of us who truly make a difference in this world, but she did.

Rest in Peace Sylvia.