Agenda and minutes

Present: Cllr James Hill (Co Chair NBC), Steve Bedford (Police), Neelam Aggarwal –Singh (IHWO, NAS), Luisa Jepson (NIFF, LJ), Nick Stephens (Police, NS), Cllr Danielle Stone (DS), Jenny Campbell (Inspiration FM JC), John Rawlings (Quakers JR), Nisha Mejer (NBC, NM), Alice Morgan (AM,NBC), Abade Ahmed (Somalian Community, AA), Cllr Rufia Ashraf (RA)

Apologies:  Nayla Mahmood, Anjona Roy, Pauline Woodhouse, Rutendo Nyastine

Minutes recorded as true to record. No matters arising.

Pauline Woodhouse would like to stand as Chair. Other forum members were also invited to stand.

ACTION: NM to email forums members to put themselves forwarded if they wish to do so.  Deadline is 18th November.  If more than one person stands, there will be an election at the next meeting.

Black History Month in October – if anyone is holding events and would like the details on a shared calendar, please send the details through to AM.

NAS: Diwali – 2 events

9 day festival 2nd -10th October Northampton College 8pm until late.

29th October – 10am onwards - performances and stalls in day with parade in the evening.

Diwali Workshops –  24th October.  “Strictly Diwali” Dancing Workshop.   Opportunity to learn Bollywood and Bhangra and then dance on stage.

JC: Inspiration FM has been forecasting 20 years. Will be holding 2 events for Black History Month.

AM: Offer of support has been given to ANSS regarding development of ESOL classes. Ongoing work.

SB gave an update on Hate Crime. Rukhsana Bashir Hate Crime coordinator has been appointed. Her role is to work with partners to deliver objectives. Rukhsana will be working closely with Nick Stephens and Rachel Packman.

SB clarified that there is no specific Police strategy. The Police are part of a shared strategy and working in partnership with other organisations. The Police have internal policies on how it is reported. 

Any agency can deal with Hate incidents.

Police will be dealing with Hate Crime.

Hate Incidents are issues which occur that don’t actually amount to a crime.

There is a concern about number of incidents reported – all forms are under reported. The strategy is in place to do something about this. Some good work is happening.

Post Brexit, there has been a rise in Hate Incidents and but not Hate Crime. There was a definite increase on the weekend of Brexit.

We have monitored an increase in Hate Incidents since March 2016. This suggests that there is more confidence to report. Information is being collected more accurately.

SB presented Police data to the Forum. Week commencing 20th June data suggests that was a dip in Hate Crime.

SB gave examples of partnership working – Police have signed an agreement with Tell Mamma to take direct reports.

Cllr Hill: What is the main reason why people don’t report?

SB: Variety of reasons. Sometimes people don’t understand what a Hate Incident is. There is a misunderstanding that people think that the Police don’t want to know about this.

People need to ring 101 and record with the control room. The Police can refer to Victim Support.

However, this is not just a Police issue. There is lot of work being done in the county. Martin Hammond is the lead contact in the County Council.

LJ: Used to work in the Hate Crime Unit and is currently working as a freelance officer for Northampton Inter Faith Forum.

LJ shared that there is lots of fear and confusion in communities. Thanked NBC for funding the Hate Crime Crane project.

LJ is in the process of setting up facilities for places of worship and disability groups to become third party reporting centres. Reports are coming in and statistics will be available soon.

Cllr Ashraf: Reporting through ringing 101 can be a barrier for some people. How do we get communities to find out how to report? There is a language barrier and people get lost in the phone system.

SB: 101 is not an emergency number. Appreciate not best method. Cuts have been made. If people are not comfortable with this, online reporting can be done.

NAS: When presenting data, it would be better to use terminology that is public friendly.

It is no longer mandatory for schools to report Hate Crime. Children are vulnerable and this type of incidents/crimes can leave a huge impact on them.

Cllr Stone: It used to be mandatory for schools to report. When Hate Crime occurs it is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Screen Northants will be filming on 2nd October in town. There is an opportunity to be an extra.

RA is organising a food collection to be sent to refugees in Calais. NM to circulate email.

PSPO consultation is live, and ends 23rd Sept.

National Living Wage Campaign information to be shared via email.

Chief Constable Supper 10th November.

Not discussed.

November 17^th, The Guildhall 6.30-8.30pm

November 17th 6.30-8.30pm. The Guildhall.