Agenda and minutes

Contact: Alice Morgan  0300 330 7000 e-mail:  alicemorgan@northampton.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Welcomes, introductions and apologies (18:30 - 5 mins)

Minutes:

Present: Cllr James Hill (Co – Chair NBC CH), Pauline Woodhouse (Co – Chair NBC PW), Nick Stephens (Northants Police NS), Christian Buckenhan (Northants Police CB), Rukhsana Bashir (Northants Police RB), Nisha Mejer (NBC NM), Christopher Fray (NRFC CF), Diana Belfon (NHFT DB), Jenny Campbell (Inspiration FM, Parent JC), Balbir Grewal (SCCYC BG), Rutendo Nyatsine (Zimwomen RN), G N’Tandau (GT United African Association)

 

Apologies: John Rawlings, Pauline Woodhouse, Alaa Abouzanad, Anjona Roy

2.

Code of Conduct (18:35 - 5 mins) pdf icon PDF 185 KB

Minutes:

CH highlighted the code of conduct to the Forum.

3.

Minutes and matters arising (18:40 - 10 mins) pdf icon PDF 91 KB

Minutes:

Alice Morgan will be moving on to the museum to work as Activity Coordinator. Alice thanked for her hard work for the Forum.

 

It is also NS last meeting before reitirement and wished the best of luck for the future.

 

New Police Engagement Officer introduced to Forum and welcomed.

 

 

4.

Diana Belfon - Reverse Commissioning Project Manager (18:50 - 20 mins plus 10 mins questions)

Minutes:

DB carried out a presentation on the work carried out on the Reverse Commissioning Project.

 

The project was created as there appeared to be discrimination.

 

A steering group was created and an Action Plan was put together. Working with Universities and training BME communities to help achieve high positions in the workforce.

 

Questions and Answer:

 

Q: We are now in 2017. Why aren’t we seeing BME in management roles?

 

A: The research indicated institutional racism. There were more development opportunities for white people.

 

Q: Do you have evidence in Northampton?

 

A: NHFT have their own stats. They are displayed on the website.

 

DB: working with various members in community including community centres and GPs.

 

ACTION: DB email address and presentation to be circulated to forum.  

5.

Rukhsana Bashir - Hate Crime Northants Police (19:20 - 10 mins plus 10 mins questions)

Minutes:

RB has been Hate Crime Coordinator since last September. Steve Bedford now has a Sergeant post. RB is based at the Guildhall.

 

RB is building links with the Police and partnerships with communities to protect vulnerable people.

 

Question and answers:

 

Q: After Brexit there was a national spike in Hate Crime. Is this trend on going?

 

A: After Brexit there was a small spike. After Hate Crime Week the reporting went up slightly. After the Paris attacks there was an increase in reporting.

 

Q: Do you have statistical data which looks at breakdown of religion and ethnicity of people who report?

 

A: Not yet. Can return to the forum to give specific stats.

 

JC: Not happy with the Police force – has asked for this information on previous occasions.

 

JH: When specific data is available the Forum can decide what further steps can be taken.

 

NS: It is the responsibility of every police officer to engage with communities and are interested in tensions. This forum is used to take feedback and the feelings are taken seriously. Hate Crime is a particular issue. The Hate Crime Unit was disbanded without consequence to the community which was a shock to the Police too.

 

There are Hate Crime victims across all communities – Black, Asian, Eastern European.

 

AM: The forum can be an influence to the Police. AM and Luisa Jepson created a survey which indicated that there was a lack of confidence in reporting.

 

There has been partnership working with NBC, NREC, Police and NIFF.

 

Q: Do you have access to the Eastern European communities?  

 

A: Local police teams have been visiting shops, Resident Associations. Groundwork has been carried out.

 

JC: These communities may not know that they can report. There are language barriers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.

Forum priorities for 2017 (19:40 - 20 mins)

Minutes:

Forum wanted to achieve the following:

 

Greater contact with the Eastern European communities.

Need stats for Hate Crime.

Education – chase NCC for data. (Forum has already asked for GCSE results for Black Caribbean students).

 

 

 

7.

Action plan (20:00 - 20 mins) pdf icon PDF 284 KB

Minutes:

Part of Forum priorities.

7a

One Day Without Us Event

Minutes:

Event to be held in Court Room Feb 20th. 6-8:30pm.

 

Forum agreed to support this.

 

ACTION: NM to circulate the event to forums.

8.

Community Information Exchange (20:20 - 10 mins)

Minutes:

4 consultations to be emailed to forums.

 

Partnership Grant application open 16th Feb. VIN giving support.

 

Holocaust Memorial Day – 26th Jan and civic ceremony 27th Jan.

 

Chinese New Year – 12th February.

 

Zimwomen Health and Wellbeing event 24th March.

 

New Crime Commisioner is in post. The Forum has tried to make contact with him.

9.

Date Of Next Meeting

Thursday 30th March, 6:30pm, The Holding Room, The Guildhall 

Minutes:

March 30th The Guildhall. 6:30 -8:30pm.