Agenda item

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 not always known who the perpetrator is. It wears you down and eventually people get used to it. It shouldn’t happen in the first place and people shouldn’t get used to it.  There is not enough citizenship training.

SB: Behaviour challenged in schools but not in homes. Have to work across the board.

JR: Have been a Chair at schools. They are a breeding ground on race incidents. Youth services are based in schools to work with staff.

Is it in the remit of Community wardens to deal with Hate Crime?

AM: There is Hate Crime training with frontline staff.  Staff have a responsibility to report incidents and Hate Crime. 

NS: Have links with wardens, fire services etc. They are asked to look out for sign of Hate Crime – eg Nazi flags etc. They will then feed this back to the Police.

RA: There needs to be reassurance that something is being done.

SB: Aims of partners is to encourage a partnership approach. By reporting everyone gets the best picture of what is happening. Police can then focus their resources. Lots of enquiries can be done. Can check CCTV cameras and individuals can be dealt with.

AM: Who deals with the investigation of hate crime and incidents now within the Police, following the change in structure and loss of the Hate Crime Unit?

SB: Had Hate Crime Unit which dealt with only 25% of Hate Crimes, the majority of cases were investigated by other staff. Now, a named officer will deal with the report.

AM: Do they provide ongoing support to the victim?

SB: The victim is refereed to Victim Support.

JC: When will strategy plan be ready?

SB: It is already. Email has been sent.

JC: The statistics are in the public domain – how are they being communicated? People won’t report if they don’t understand.

SB: Statistics are always in the public domain. There is a Home Office website.

JC: Is there simple process to access information?

SB: The information is there. You can go to a search engine. However you represent data, people want it in a different format. There is a police website and people can insert their postcode in to find out information local to them.

JR: The figures are irrelevant on their own.

SB: Best to contact Martin Hammond.

JC: The stats are too complicated.

NAS suggested that the Police could have regular slots on the community radio stations to reassure communities.

LJ: Are front line officers receiving training?

AM: Hate Crime Awareness Week – partnership working with NREC and NIFF. There will be an Inter Forum Community Event to recruit Hate Crime champions 4.30-6:30pm.

There will be a training session for staff.