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Hate Crimes

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The Westminster Police Department believes in protecting the City's diverse population from fear, intimidation, and physical harm caused by a violent group or individual based upon race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. 

 For historical information on hate crimes in Orange County, please refer to the OC Human Relations website. 

Hate Crime vs. Hate Incident

Category  Hate Crime  Hate Incident
 Action Criminal Act (Penal Code 422.55)

 Act of prejudice (not a crime, does not involve violence, threats or property damage)
 Motivation  Bias: based on perceived race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or gender  Hatred or bigotry directed at any individual, residence, house of worship, institution, or business because of perceived race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or disability.
 Examples  Acts that result in injury, verbal threat of violence that can be carried out, property damage  Hate speech (name calling, racial slurs, insults), display of offensive materials on one's property, distribution of hate materials in public places, and posting of hate materials not resulting in property damage. 

Reported Hate Incidents and Crimes: 2025

This page will be updated monthly

Hate incidents reported to the Westminster Police Department as of  November 1, 2025: 0

Hate crimes reported to the Westminster Police Department as of November 1, 2025: 5

  • 3/3/25: Graffiti: Based on race (Anti-Black)
  • 4/11/25: Simple Assault: Based on ethnicity (Anti-Other Race/Ethnicity/Ancestry)
  • 6/6/25:  Offensive Words in Public Place: Based on ethnicity (Anti-Hispanic)
  • 7/22/25: Aggravated Assault based on race (Anti-Hispanic)
  • 7/25/25: Aggravated Assault based on race (Anti-Hispanic)

If You Are A Victim

If you are a victim of a hate crime, please report it to the Westminster Police Department by calling our non-emergency dispatch line at (714) 548-3212 or 9-1-1 for emergencies. 

If the event does not meet the definition of a hate crime, it may fall under the category of a hate incident. 

If you would like additional information about hate crimes and incidents, please refer to this brochure from the Department of Justice titled "How to Report Hate Crimes and Incidents and Get Help." here.