Race hate crimes - progress report

Report: 16
Date: 26 June 2001
By: Clerk

Summary

At the April meeting of this committee, Members considered the recommendations of the paper on race hate crimes produced by the Deputy Chair of the Authority, Peter Herbert, following his attendance at a conference in Stockholm. This paper is presented to inform members of the outcomes of an initial working group meeting held 14 June 2001.

A. Recommendation

That members note the proposed developments following the meeting on race hate crimes.

B. Supporting information

1. Following discussion of his paper at the 24 April 2001 CDO Committee meeting, the Deputy Chair of the Authority chaired a meeting of representatives from the Crown Prosecution Service/Society of Black Lawyers, Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and members of this Committee (Cindy Butts and Nick Long). This meeting considered the full set of recommendations contained in the paper and proposed that a starting point should be a further meeting, hosted by the MPA. This meeting, involving a wider group of participants is scheduled for Monday 23 July. The list of organisations that will be invited to this meeting see Appendix 1. Members may wish to suggest additions to this list.

2. The group proposed that an audit across the various organisations should be carried out to identify good practice that could be applied on a pan London basis.

3. A further outcome of the meeting will be to achieve the development of protocols in dealing with race hate crimes and a set up of minimum standards across organisations.

4. It is also proposed that a seminar should be held in this financial year; this will be explored further at the meeting on 23 July 2001.

C. Financial implications

Hosting a conference will cost in the region of £9,000 to £15,000 depending on the location and speakers invited to take part. It is possible that the MPS and other organisations could contribute to such an event. A detailed budget will be presented following the decision of the meeting on 23 July 2001. It is anticipated that in the first instance that these costs be contained within existing estimates, but if necessary there may be a need to make an allocation from the first year set up costs reserve. Every effort will be made to ensure that the event is, as far as possible, self-financing.

D. Background papers

• Report to Consultation, Diversity and Outreach Committee - Race Hate Crimes Seminar - 24 April 2001

E. Contact details

The author of this report is Julia Smith.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Appendix 1: Organisations to be invited to the MPA Race Hate Crimes meeting on 23 July 2001

• Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)
• Lewisham Council Racial harassment Unit
• Circle 33 Housing Association
• Ujima Housing Association
• Chartered Institute for Housing
• Probation Service
• Prison Service
• Association of London Government (ALG)
• Mayor’s Office
• GLA Assembly
• National Association for Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO)
• Commission for Racial Equality
• Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE)
• Race on the Agenda
• Recorder of London
• Judicial Studies Board
• Borough Solicitors
• Crime Reduction Director for London
• Greater London Magistrates Court Committee
• Crown Prosecution Service

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