Exploring Prejudice: Mapping Hate Crime in the South West

Abstract

This article explores the management of hate crime in the South West of England. Drawing on empirical research, the article addresses the implementation of hate crime policy across public and third sector agencies that specifically deal with hate crime problems. As such the article particularly examines policy drift within and between agencies. The research findings identify some good practice in managing hate crime in the South West, including elements of effective multi-agency working. However, policy drift is identified; both within agencies, wherein practitioners fail to interpret hate crime policy into practice, and between agencies, whereby traditional notions of responsibility are embraced rather than effective multi-agency engagement identified by policy as appropriate to tackle hate crime. © 2013 Macmillan Publishers Ltd.