London Race Hate Forum

Report: 12
Date: 16 October 2003
By: Clerk

Summary

The report is presented to inform members of the progress being made by the London Race Hate Crimes Forum.

A. Recommendations

Members are asked to:

1. Note the work being progressed by the sub groups and the emerging resource implication
2. Note the action underway to appoint a development worker for the Forum
3. Comment on and agree the decision taken by the forum to seek clarification from the CPS concerning the decision taken by the CPS not to prosecute those responsible for the racist hate mail to the MPA member and Chair of the Forum, Peter Herbert

B. Supporting information

Sub groups

1. One of the first actions of the Forum was to carry out scoping of its work and to set up three sub groups to take each of the strands of work forward. The three areas being looked at are:

1. Information – Criminal Side – this sub group will bring proposals for the way in which the Forum will be able to access Race Hate Crime Information from the justice agencies. This group is chaired by the representative from the Crown Prosecution Service
2. Information – Civil Side. This sub-group will bring proposals for the way in which the Forum can access information on race hate crimes from the civil system. (Education, Housing, Social Services, Voluntary Sector etc) This sub group is Chaired by the representative from Victim Support, who is also one of the Deputy Chairs of the Forum.
3. Good Practice sub group – This sub group will bring proposals and progress aspects of the work required to identify, co-ordinate and disseminate good practice examples in dealing with race and other hate crimes across the key statutory and voluntary agencies. London – This sub group is being Chaired by one of the representatives from the Greater London Authority (GLA)
4. London Protocol Sub Group. The Forum has had a draft protocol in place for some time, this sub group is tasked with identifying the extent to which the partner organisations are implementing the London Protocol and to bring proposals for ways in which any identified obstacles preventing cooperation across agencies can be addressed. This sub group is being Chaired by the representative from the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE).

Development worker

2. Throughout the summer each group met and proposals were presented to the September meeting of the Forum. Each presented a work programme including actions, which required immediate progress, and highlighted the need for the appointment of a development worker for the group to be progressed as a matter of urgency. Representatives from the GLA, Victim Support, and the MPA have now developed an agreed job description and person specification for the development worker and an Administrator to the Forum, and the MPA Human Resource Unit is in the process of confirming the salary levels for both roles as part of the job evaluation process that is applied to all MPA jobs.

3. The development worker post will be advertised to seek and individual for an initial 12 month contract. It has previously been agreed that the postholder will be employed by the MPA, but based at the offices of Victim Support London; they are currently providing office accommodation for the administrator who is on a short-term contract.

4. One of the key roles of the postholder will be to secure continuing funding for the post on a permanent basis from the Government Office for London and the partner organisation. Funding for Local Racial Incident Panels – work is currently underway to identify how these Panels are funded. This information is not readily available and it is expected that this be concluded by December 03, when the Forum will be in a better position to know what action, if any, it will take in lobbying Central Government and the GOL for this issue to be addressed
5. Members will be aware of the small number of CPCG’s who were using part of their funding to fund local RIP’s. MPA officers have met with some Chief Executives and their officers to discuss this and further meetings are planned with the remaining local authorities so that they can take steps easily to secure funding for their RIP through the CDRP budget for 2004-5.

6. It is evident from some of the meetings held that some RIPs do not appear to be accountable to any of the statutory or criminal justice agencies. It was also unclear how their work was relayed to the local community in a consistent manner. This will be one of the priorities of the forum in the coming year.

Appeal to the CPS

7. Over 200 vicious race hate e-mails were sent to Peter Herbert, member of the Authority and Chair of the RHC Forum, following a comment made at the Authority meeting. There was an international campaign generated by a national magazine. Details were also published in an article by the editor of the Spectator magazine, which was regarded as inciting racial hatred. The matter has been investigated by the MPS who have been eager that the matter should be pursued. However a decision was taken by the CPS that the case should not be brought to court. The Forum has discussed the decision by the CPS and is of the view that it reflected a consistent pattern in the way in which the CPS deals with prosecuting individuals accused of committing racist crimes. The Forum members, having considered the matter and seeks the support of the Board to formally request the CPS for a full explanation of the decision reached. The MPS is in support of this request.

C. Equality and diversity implications

The reported incidence of hate crime is increasing. It is not known whether this is due to greater confidence by the public in reporting such crimes or whether there are more racial attacks. The ability of the forum to report on and disseminate this type of information to the public will address a number of the Lawrence recommendations as well as lead to an increase in community trust and confidence.

D. Financial implications

There are no financial implications associated to this report. All work required will be contained within the current budgeted and the funding provided by the Government office for London for 2003/04. The planned annual budget is £35,000. The funding of the Development Worker will be met from the £30,000 already received from the GOL. A temporary administrator is currently in post with a salary of approximately £11,000.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Julia Smith, MPA.

For more information contact:

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

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