Agenda item

Hate Crime Action Group

Report of the Chief of Staff, Office of the Durham Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner.

Minutes:

The Chairman introduced the Head of Policy and Communications, Office of the PCVC, Jon Carling who was in attendance to speak to Members in relation to the Hate Crime Action Group (for copy see file of minutes).

 

The Head of Policy and Communications, PCVC thanked Members and asked the Committee to recall that the PCVC, Ron Hogg had since his election 5 years ago always set out within his Police, Crime and Victims’ Plan (PCVP) measures to reduce and tackle hate crime and to support victims and vulnerable people.  It was added that the Hate Crime Action Group (HCAG) did not itself provide delivery, however, its members were responsible in terms of delivering against the issue.  It was noted that the HCAG included DCC, DBC, Durham Constabulary, Durham University and organisations from the voluntary and community sector (VCS), for example Show Racism the Red Card.

 

The Committee noted the HCAG had 2 broad functions: to hold service-providing organisations to account; and to oversee the delivery of initiatives to address hate crime.  Members were reminded of the priorities within the PCVP that related to the work of the HCAG: tackle and reduce hate crime; ensure victims are supported at all stages of the criminal justice system; and safeguard vulnerable people. 

 

 

The Head of Policy and Communications, PCVC explained that from this the Joint Hate Crime Action Group (JHCAG) developed 4 objectives to support the priorities: understand and reduce the true level of hate crimes and incidents; increase reporting of hate incidents; provide effective support for victims; and to ensure effective prosecutions.

 

It was explained that on 4 July 2018 the PCVC hosted a Hate Crime Conference at the Xcel Centre in Newton Aycliffe attended by over 120 people from a wide range of organisations in the public and voluntary sectors.  It was added that over 20 workshops were held and delegates helped to identify areas of work that could help achieve the JHCAG objectives.  Councillors noted that these were distilled into manageable projects and formed the draft Joint Hate Crime Action Plan.

 

The Committee noted the Plan had five areas: communications strategy; reporting mechanisms and pathways; intelligence sharing; use of evidence to secure convictions; and mapping of support for victims and to identify gaps.  The Head of Policy and Communications, PCVC noted that over the course of the next year, the JHCAG would monitor the progress of the five areas/workstreams as well as hold the Police to account in relation to putting measures in place to tackle and reduce hate crime.  It was added there would also be work in terms of holding DCC and DBC to account in delivery of measures to tackle and reduce hate crime.  Members were reminded of the Community Cohesion Toolkit and it was explained that this would be reviewed and consideration would be given as to whether it would be possible to have a wider application to other service providers.  The Head of Policy and Communications, PCVC concluded by noting that the JHCAG would report back to the Safe Durham Partnership (SDP) and the Darlington Community Safety Partnership in terms of progress.

 

The Chairman thanked the Head of Policy and Communications, PCVC and asked Members of the Committee for their questions and comments.

 

Councillor R Crute noted the excellent work adding it was timely in terms of the increase use of social media and its misuse.  He noted the work of the PCVC, however asked if there was other work ongoing nationally in this regard.  The Head of Policy and Communications, PCVC noted that there was and that that work was being looked at and any lessons would be learned accordingly, especially from other Forces across the country. 

 

Mr D Balls noted the work and added that it would be important in terms of communication and tone to highlight good news stories, and it would be advisable to emphasise and reinforce these.  The Head of Policy and Communications, PCVC agreed that this was true and that it would be so, with positive stories helping to encourage people to have the confidence to report incidents and in the processes in place.

 

Councillor E Mavin noted some of the correspondence that Councillor dealt with were of an unpleasant nature and noted some bordered on being hate crime.  The Head of Policy and Communications, PCVC noted that he would encourage anyone that felt there was a dimension of hate crime in an incident to report this to be looked at further.

 

Councillor J Considine asked if there was work ongoing in schools as there were parallels in terms of hate crime and bullying.  The Head of Policy and Communications, PCVC noted that at a recent Investing in Children conference a number of young people gave presentations about their stories.  He added that there had been some materials produced in the past, a DVD and a book.

 

The Chairman noted agreed with Councillor J Considine and asked how the level of severity was ascertained, in terms of bullying that could escalate up to hate crime.  The Head of Policy and Communications, PCVC noted that an incident was a hate crime if the victim identifies it as such.  He added that there were more hate crimes relating to race or religion, then sexual orientation and then disability, then perhaps age which he proposed should be considered as a category in terms of hate crime.  It was added that it was felt that disability hate crime was underreported and the Head of Policy and Communications, PCVC explained that should young people, or anyone, experience hate crime via social media they should come forward and report it.  It relation to underreporting of disability hate crime, Councillor C Wilson noted a recent addition to a soap with a strong disabled character.  The Head of Policy and Communications, PCVC agreed that it was important and beneficial to have positive portrayals in order to help in society or widely.

 

Resolved:   

 

That the report be noted.

 

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