Agenda item

The Panel considered a report of the Assistant Chief Executive and received a presentation from Ch Supt Graham Hall on the approach taken by Durham Constabulary to tackle Hate Crime (for report and presentation slides see file of Minutes).

Councillor Brookes referred to the presentation and asked how the force dealt with both on-line hate crime and the approach to hate generated in the media.  Ch Supt Hall replied that cyber hate crime was the greatest challenge for young people and could have a devastating effect.  The force participated in a multi-agency community carousel which, among other things, raised the awareness of the harm which could be done by cyber-crime, and it was aimed to take this to a wider age group, and youth engagement officers worked within partnerships.  Ch Supt Hall added that the force dealt with cyber-crime robustly.  Referring to the media, Ch Supt Hall informed the Panel that it was important to deal with adverse publicity in a direct manner, both through electronic media and the press.

Councillor Hovvels referred to the gypsy traveller community, which had been not been mentioned in the presentation.  Ch Supt Hall replied that this was large and challenging area and as such was dealt with separately.  There was a need to engage with the gypsy traveller community as well as to address educational and accommodation issues.  County Durham and Darlington both had excellent groups which addressed gypsy traveller community’s issues.

The Police and Crime Commissioner informed the Panel that 50% of police work now involved some aspect of social media.  The Commissioner’s Office had run a cyber-bullying awareness competition and worked with Investors in Children around this issue.