Race hate crimes

Report: 7
Date: 09 May 2002
By: Commissioner

Summary

This paper provides an update on the activity being undertaken by the Metropolitan Police Service to monitor the investigation of race hate crimes.

A. Recommendation

Members are asked to note the contents of this report.

B. Supporting information

1. Progress continues within the MPS to monitor race and other hate crime across boroughs. All 32 borough operational command units now have Community Safety Units whose prime purpose is the investigation of race and other hate crime. Minimum standards and governing practices for such investigations were updated by way of a Special Police Notice issued throughout the MPS. Local analysis of hate crime is thus undertaken within each borough.

2. Within the MPS, the Diversity Directorate (DCC4) has a specialised intelligence and analysis unit (ICAS) which is capable of pan-London hate crime analysis which forms the basis of regular crime summary bulletins. This analysis is also capable of breakdown borough by borough. At the most recent meeting of the MPA Race Hate Crimes (RHC) working group, chaired by Peter Herbert, on 10th April 2002 Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Lovelock of the MPS Diversity Directorate provided members of the group with the latest borough breakdown of reported hate crime statistics for the period March 2001 to February 2002 with a comparative analysis for the previous corresponding 12 month period.

3. The total reported racist crime for the MPS for that period was 18,049, a reduction of 1,787 incidents from the previous 12 months (19,836). The statistics show the 5 London boroughs with the highest reported hate crime figures per that 12 month period were (figures for previous 12 months in brackets):

• Newham 1,080 (1,089)
• Hounslow 1,074 (1,088)
• Southwark 1,010 (1,083)
• Greenwich 897 (1,031)
• Tower Hamlets 828 (913)

4. By contrast the boroughs reporting the fewest crimes were:

• Kensington and Chelsea 241 (401)
• Havering 262 (285)
• Richmond 281 (278)
• Sutton 287 (270)
• Kingston 303 (320)

5. Whilst the majority of boroughs (24) showed a decrease in reporting levels, the figures take no account of borough demographic differences. Those boroughs recording the highest levels of crime are not dissimilar to those boroughs reporting higher levels of crime generally. No analysis to explain reporting levels is available at present. The MPS intend to provide hate crimes figures per 1000 population as well as judicial disposal rates at the next meeting of the MPA RHC group on 11th June to enable a more accurate comparison of borough crime rates to be made.

6. To monitor the perceived rise in hate crime post September 11th, ICAS introduced a series of flags into police crime reporting processes enabling hate crimes to be identified where there was anti Muslim or anti US motives. Latterly this has been extended to all faith groups. The MPS were already able to separately identify anti-Semitic crimes. Whilst there was an increase in hate crime as a result of the atrocities committed on the 11th September, this increase diminished as rapidly as it had arisen. Most recently an increase in anti Semitic crimes has been identified. As a result of this analysis, local boroughs have been able to respond accordingly with increased patrols together with the introduction of other preventative measures in areas where increased crime levels have been identified and in locations, such as places of worship, where the risk might be considered greater than usual. Much work has been undertaken with appropriate communities in this respect.

7. The work being conducted by the Home Office funded 'Understanding and Responding to Hate Crime Project' continues. Headed by Professor Betsy Stanko within the Diversity Directorate, the project is analysing and reviewing data relating to hate crime, including race crime. This has, and will continue to, enhance the understanding of the issues that give rise to hate crimes in order that resources can be deployed appropriately to prevent and detect their occurrence. The latest findings have previously been circulated to the MPA RHC group.

8. Crime and Disorder strategies are devised by each local authority;. with the exception of one local authority, the Government Office for London has now received every authority's individual strategy. Every local authority has included hate crime (which includes race hate crime). The MPS has requested a more detailed breakdown of these strategies so it can identify stated intentions. The MPA Policing and Performance Plan for 2002/3 contains objectives, measures and targets for victim satisfaction and judicial disposal rates for race hate crime investigation. All boroughs will be expected to meet the targets set. Performance will continue to be monitored by the MPS.

C. Financial implications

There are no direct financial implications associated with this report.

D. Background papers

None.

E. Contact details

Report author: Steve Lovelock, Detective Chief Superintendent, Diversity Directorate (DCC4), MPS.

For information contact:

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

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback