Agenda item

Update from Chief Inspector Gary Ashton

The Hate Crime Strategy is now finalised, and a delivery plan has been created, which will involve the setting up of a delivery group to move the strategy forward.

A risk assessment and escalation mechanism for Hate Crime has already been introduced. An Independent Review Panel has also been set up, which will be brought a random selection of depersonalised medium and high risk cases, to perform a ‘critical friend’ function.

Question: Will the Independent Review Panel be purely for Hate Crime, or utilised for other areas of policing also?

In the past, the IAGs (Independent Advisory Groups) were not always brought issues of sufficient gravity, and struggled with membership. There is a possibility that the Independent Review Panel could be used for issues of sufficient gravity in the future.

Question: Is there LGBTQ representation on the Independent Review Panel.

Action: Chief Inspector Ashton will get an answer for this question to the forum.

The ASBU unit is going to be restructured, with one county wide unit which will incorporate ASBU, Hate Crime and Community Engagement Officers. A Hate Crime Coordinator role is also being introduced as it was identified there was a gap which this role will address. The post will be responsible for ensuring all staff know how to deal effectively with hate crime, and also work with Third Sector partners to ensure they are equipped also.

Chief Inspector Ashton is regularly in contact with NREC.

An internal training needs assessment has been running, ending at the end of this week. Once this has concluded, training solution will be put together with training providers.

Will raised an experience with front line staff, who did not understand what ‘Trans’ is, when he reported a hate incident on behalf of a young person. This could be a great stumbling block for someone reporting.

Chief Inspector Ashton advised that Hate Crime Champions have been appointed, who can be approached for support and advice within the force, when colleagues are dealing with dealing with hate crime or incidents.

Hate crime date reports can now be produced, and data can be extracted from this. 

Question: Are transgender hate crime identifiable, or are they incorporated within LGBTQ?

Specific types of hate crime, such as Transgender Hate, can be identified. The data has a greater breakdown of types of hate crime, plus greater detail of each incident.

There have been a significant upturn in the reporting of incidents. This could be down to two factors; that the importance of reporting has been pushed, and that the system now more effectively picks out hate incidents.

Question: Does the Force have the resource to interrogate the data?

Northamptonshire Police are currently recruiting the Hate Crime Coordinator, who will be responsible for this.

Action: AM to invite Chief Inspector Ashton and the newly appointed Hate Crime Coordinator, to the next meeting in November.

Attendees discussed the importance of partnership working when working with those who have experienced hate crimes and incidents. Chief Inspector Ashton raised the use of Esyns, available to those organisations working within a multi-agency setting.

Further discussion was held around training needs to ensure front line staff are equipped to deal with hate crime and incidents effectively. It was felt that schools, from experience, also may not have a great deal of knowledge around LGBTQ, specifically Trans, issues. Possibility discussed of having a larger Gendered Intelligence training sessions for Schools, Statutory organisations, and VCS organisations, who may be providing support to people who identify as Transgender.