Law enforcement and hate crime: theoretical perspectives on the complexities of policing 'hatred'

This chapter considers a number of theoretical issues relating to the law and law enforcement in relation to hate crimes. It argues that because hate crimes are complex events, they pose significant challenges to law-makers, the police and prosecutors. The chapter suggests that there are many issues both internal and external to those individuals and agencies responsible for law enforcement, and over which they have varying degrees of control, that inevitably impact upon their ability to enforce the law and to respond effectively and to provide a service appropriate to the needs of victims and wider communities. The theoretical issues concerning &s;street-level bureaucrats&s; demonstrate the powerful position held by those often in lower ranks of law enforcement agencies, and the potential for low-level employees to determine the outcomes of both law and organisational policy through their use of discretion.