Racial hate crime in Malta : a routine activities perspective

Abstract

The present research focuses on racial hate crime in Malta, yet from the standpoint of Cohen and Felson’s Routine Activities Theory. The researcher opted for such research upon the recognition that whilst there have been studies on hate crime, research specifically focusing on the racial limb of hate crime and that which engenders it, are relatively scant notwithstanding being necessitated in light of events which have unfolded locally. Beneficiaries of protection residing at Peace Lab have partook in this research, whose accounts have been collected and subsequently analysed. Therefrom it was revealed that the said beneficiaries themselves acknowledge that as suitable targets, not only can they fall prey to motivated offenders in the event of having incapable guardians but the supposed guardians themselves may even precipitate their own victimizations. Also, it was further confirmed that there is indeed a disparity between the official data as to racial hate crime and the actual reality at large. The findings yielded have even showcased that in a bid to address the situation perennially, the provision of the right education from the outset is to be of first and paramount importance. Such an endeavour provides for a fact-based appraisal, on the basis of which the researcher fervently hopes that the current state of play may be bettered.