BriefTea
Every story in sixty words
Get the free app no ads · no paywallExplained in plain English
What is a hate crime?
A hate crime is when someone commits a criminal offence, like harassment, and also shows hostility towards a person's race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or transgender identity. The police can treat this hostility as an aggravating factor, meaning the punishment could be more severe. In this story, the taunting video could be investigated as a hate crime due to the perceived hostility.
Stories that explain this
Boy, 14, Hands Himself In Over Bradley Lowery Taunt VideoQuestions this opens up
What is an aggravating factor? How are hate crimes reported? What is the maximum sentence for a 14-year-old?Related explainers
Is online taunting a crime? What is the age of criminal responsibility? What is Bradley Lowery's legacy? What can football clubs do? What is neuroblastoma? Can police charge a 14-year-old? Why are hate crimes rising? How many hate crimes go unpunished?The full catalogue
Browse every card filed under H →We would like to count visits and see which links bring readers here. That means storing a random ID in your browser. No cookies, no ads, no profile. How it works.