Agenda item

Report of the Hate Crime Action Group - presented by Jon Carling, Head of Policy and Communications, Office of the Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner.

The Chairman introduced the Head of Policy and Communications, Office of the Durham Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner (PCVC), Jon Carling to give an update for Members in respect of the activity of the Hate Crime Action Group (for copy see file of minutes).

The Head of Policy and Communications thanked Members for the opportunity to provide an update and suggested that it was a useful time to take stock of the progress so far.  Members were reminded that the Hate Crime Action Group (HCAG) was set up by the PCVC, Ron Hogg in November 2013 to deliver one coordinated action plan between statutory and voluntary partners to address the PCVC’s priority “to reduce the impact of hate crime”.

It was explained that the HCAG was multi-agency and met quarterly, with the meeting now chaired by the Head of Policy and Communications, having previously been chaired by Durham Constabulary.

The Head of Policy and Communications explained that key areas of work included a review of “safe places”, working with the Council, as regards those places being “fit for purpose”.  It was added that there had been the Community Hands scheme, which had offered a victim support service, helping to signpost victims to various local support agencies and supported them to report the incident to the police, though this had recently closed.  It was explained that there other exercises undertaken including the mapping of the support services for those victims of hate crime, the issuing of joint communications, and raising awareness and letting people know they do not need to suffer in silence. 

Members were reminded of the use of restorative approaches (RAs), though noting due to the sensitive nature of the issues involved, this would require authorisation from a Senior Officer before a RA route was taken.  The Head of Policy and Communications noted work relating to Police accountability, with each HCAG meeting having an update in terms of recent crime and anti-social behaviour data. 

Members were informed that problem solving was utilised to try and close the gap between the number of actual and reported hate crimes, and also the use of the “Keep In The Know” messaging system was encouraged to help achieve this.

In terms of performance, the Head of Policy and Communications explained that the number of incidents reported was increasing, and that this was in the context of confidence and satisfaction in the Police and Local Council within the BME and LGBT communities having also increased.  It was noted that while confidence was high, it was lower for disabled people than others groups.

The Head of Policy and Communications explained that the Terms of Reference for the HCAG took evidence from partners and looked at best practice to inform the work programme of the Group going forward. 

It was added that this programme would include: jointly planned communications; consideration of services for victims of hate crime with a view to reviewing effectiveness, identifying gaps and commissioning gaps to meet needs; exercise to map services for victims of hate crime; and reviewing use of the Institute of Community Cohesion Tension Monitoring Toolkit, looking at issues in including refugees.

It was noted that the HCAG reported back to the Safe Durham Partnership and Darlington Community Safety Partnership, as well as the PCVC and also published an annual report.

The Chairman thanked the Head of Policy and Communications for the update and noted that the issues was one that was close to the heart for the PCVC and asked Members for their comments and questions.

Councillor J Charlton asked as regards the safe place, mentioned within her electoral division, though she was not aware of this.  The Head of Policy and Communications noted that those places were under review, together with the communication and publicity to those places.  The Chairman thanked the Head of Policy and Communications and asked if information in terms of this could be circulated.

Resolved:

(i)            That the contents of the report be noted.

(ii)          That following a review of identified safe places, information on locations be shared with elected Members

(iii)         That a further report on the Hate Crime Action group be included within the Committee’s work programme for 2017/18.