Agenda and minutes

Apologies received from Matthew Toresen (Community Co-Chair/ FAN/ VIN).

Minutes agreed as a true record.

Luisa shared data sheets which show the figures of hate crimes and incidents around the County, to provide a picture of what is happening.

Luisa discussed with the forum that the Force are looking to develop a ‘hub’ for hate crime and ASB, to provide a more coordinated and join up approach. This is still at the drawing board; taking into account best practice from around the country, some ideas on how this will work are being drawn up. Luisa has asked to return to the forums from September to ask for feedback.

Liz commented that in North East Northants there are very few police stations, and there has been an added difficultly in the hate crime unit going.

The forum attendees continued to discuss possible avenues of reporting, including:

-       Difficulty of on-line reporting; over reporting etc.

-       Telephone; Liz commented that through experiences at Beaumont, a telephone help line has worked well.

Chair of Police Spectrum group asked other forum attendees what the communities experience has been since the closure of the Hate Crime Unit (HCU); has reporting gone down, and has confidence to report gone down?

Ian commented that it is not just about reporting, but instead about the quality of service that is available, which is something figures cannot show. Community members were confident that with the HCU, that quality of service and understanding of issues was there.

Forum agreed the way forward is to design a survey to find out about peoples experiences of hate crime. The results can then be used to evidence the impact of the HCU closure.

ACTION: AM to work with LJ to create a survey – draft to be circulated to forum for comments, and paper copy to be launched at Umbrella Fair. Survey Monkey survey also to be created.

MT leading on Straight Allies tent this year. More artists required to perform. Straight Allies bunting and badges will be at tent again this year. Any volunteers, please come along and help us – Saturday 15^th / Sunday 16^th. Details for Umbrella Fair can be found here: http://www.umbrellafair.org.uk/umbrella-fair-festival/

Daniel would like to have another BooQfest event for ICOD 2015 – it was agreed to combine with ICOD event again this year.

ACTION: Alice and Matt to speak to Derngate regarding venue again.

See Agenda item 3 for details – hate crime survey.

-       Remembering Sbrenica ceremony: http://www.northampton.gov.uk/news/article/2090/northampton-remembers-srebrenica

-       Ben – Meeting to discuss establishment of a Trans Support Group – 15^th July, Low Down

-       Lesbian Line are still providing support services, and have drop in every Wednesday. Details here: http://www.lesbianline.co.uk/index.php

-       Ian - Umbrella Fair Café open Saturdays and Sundays. Possibly hosting the Low Down Out There youth group Prom at the Pavilion.

ICOD

Hate Crime

WAD

Next meetings:

Tuesday 15^th September

Tuesday 10^th November

All meeting held from 6:30pm in the Holding Room, The Guildhall.