London-wide Race Hate Crime Forum

Report: 12
Date: 7 July 2005
By: Chief Executive and Clerk

Summary

This report asks members to note the achievements of the London-wide Race Hate Crime Forum (LRHCF) during 2004/05, and to consider how it can develop further in the future.

A. Recommendations

That

1. members note the achievements of the London-wide Race Hate Crime Forum outlined in its Annual Report 2004/05 attached at Appendix 1;
2. members agree while the MPA and Government Office for London (GoL) remain the major funders, the London-wide Race Hate Crime Forum (LRHCF) should continue to be a MPA-led multi-agency initiative;
3. the LRHCF report to EODB bi-annually, and annually to full Authority; and
4. the LRHCF should be invited to agree to work to a wider remit and consider other hate crimes e.g. homophobic and crime and abuse against disabled people

B. Supporting information

1. Background

1.1 The London-wide Race Hate Crime Forum (LRHCF) was developed through a MPA-led Working Group, set up in July 2001, in response to recommendations from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report calling for improved co-ordination and collaboration among agencies responding to racial harassment. The LRHCF held its inaugural meeting on 7 July 2003.

1.2 During 2004/05, the LRHCF has worked specifically with eight boroughs across London, prioritising those with the highest volume of reported racist incidents. [1]

1.3 The format that the Forum has developed over the last year has proved productive, constructive and successful. The work of the Forum has resulted in a number of achievements including:

• Successful engagement with six of the eight priority boroughs through the formal forum process
• Positive impact on resolution of protracted racial harassment cases
• Constructive contribution to development of MPS Hate Crime Standard Operating Procedures

For more details, see Appendix 1, London-wide Race Hate Crime Forum Annual Report 2004/’05.

1.4 The Forum will continue to work with a further eight boroughs during 2005/’06. [2] This process will build on the methodology used during the past year, which includes:

• Working proactively with the community and voluntary sector, the MPS Borough Operational Command Unit (BOCU) and the local authority
• Inviting the borough multi-agency response to attend a formal Forum meeting to present their local practice and take away any Forum recommendations
• Follow-up engagement with the community and voluntary sector, local authority and MPS BOCU to progress work further and /or share best practice.

2. LRHCF – MPA leadership role

2.1 The MPA and Government Office for London are the main funders of the LRHCF. During 2004/05, the MPA contributed £30,000 and GoL, £19,000. The MPA, in addition, also absorbed an overspend of just over £6,700.

2.2 For the financial year 2005/06, the MPA and GoL have committed £35,000 each. The GLA has promised a modest contribution, but this has not yet been formally confirmed; the indicative level of contribution will not impact on the overall budget allocation put forward by the MPA and GoL. Consequently, for its third year, the MPA and GoL remain the significant financial contributors to the work of the LRHCF.

2.3 Prior to the launch of the LRHCF in May 2003, partner organisations had pledged either financial support or staff-based support to the Forum. However, in addition to revenue, the MPA provides, and supports, the Forum officers who are members of the MPA Race and Diversity Unit. Furthermore, Peter Herbert, an MPA independent member, chairs the LRHCF.

2.4 While the LRHCF is remains a free standing forum, independent of the MPA, the MPA will continue to play a leadership role in order to sustain and develop the Forum.

2.5 Members should be clear that though the Forum is ‘led’ by the MPA – it does not mean that it is ‘owned’ by the MPA. The ‘leadership’ that the MPA provides is in supporting boroughs and Forum members; it is in facilitating a space where Forum members can discuss issues of concern with boroughs; it is in enabling good practice to be shared; it is in assisting Forum members in setting the direction of meetings and agendas; it is in mutually working towards and achieving clear goals and targets.

2.6 Ultimately, the broader objective is to develop an autonomous multi-agency body that can challenge agencies across London working to tackle race hate crime effectively. However, in order to develop this facility, the LRHCF should be supported fully until it is sufficiently mature to function independently.

3. Governance

3.1 As long as the MPA takes a leadership role in relation to the LRHCF it is appropriate that the Forum’s governance should have a closer relationship with the Authority.

3.2 “Good governance leads to good management, good performance, good stewardship of public money, good public engagement and ultimately good outcomes.” [3] In order to follow this principle, given that the MPA provides significant funding, support for the staff working to the Forum and the Chair of the Forum itself, any LRHCF Chair should benefit from the support of members across the Authority in terms of its decision-making.

3.3 The relationship between the LRHCF and the MPA could also be further enhanced by regular reporting to the Authority of the achievements and progress of the LRHCF. Consequently, any obstacles faced by the LRHCF can be tackled with the broader support of the Authority.

4. From race hate crime to a broader remit

4.1 When the LRHCF Working Group that built the Forum, was established, the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report recommendations formed a significant driver, which naturally focused on racist crime. However, recognition, awareness and reporting have increased around other forms of hate crime e.g. domestic violence, rape and sexual offences, homophobic crime and abuse against disabled people.

4.2 During January, March and May EODB meetings, each of which focused on gender, sexual orientation and religion respectively, discussions have centred on hate crime. Community members taking part in those discussions have each raised issues around under-reporting, quality and consistency of response by the MPS to hate crime across these equality identities.

4.3 It is the next clear and logical step for the LRHCF to broaden its remit to include oversight of MPS investigation of other forms of hate crime, following its success in relation to racist incidents.

4.4 However, domestic violence, as a form of gender-based hate crime, is too large an area to become part of the existing forum. However, a future move could involve a structure similar to the existing forum designed to examine the quality and consistency of MPS response to domestic violence across London.

4.5 A starting point could be to invite the LRHCF to widen its mission, to tackle homophobic crime and abuse against disabled people. MPS Community Safety Units already work to this wider portfolio. Further, local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships may be prioritising ‘hate crime’ more broadly, rather than racist crime alone. For example, when Greenwich presented to the LRHCF, they presented work on abuse against disabled people and homophobic crime because this was part of their campaign to tackle hate crime across the borough.

C. Race and equality impact

1. Under the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (section 404 (b), the MPA has a legislative duty to eliminate unlawful discrimination, promote equality of opportunity and to promote good relations between people of different races, religions and sexual orientations. The widening of the LRHCF’s remit would contribute significantly to the MPA’s work towards this positive duty.

2. Given the resources, both financial and otherwise, the MPA is investing in the LRHCF; it is appropriate for the MPA to retain a leading role in the Forum’s future development. Supporting the Forum is a considerable financial investment to the MPA’s commitment to promoting equality and diversity, and its scrutiny role of MPS performance in an area of policing of significant concern to London’s black and minority ethnic communities.

D. Financial implications

1. In 2004/05 the LRHCF cost £ 49K of which £30K was met by the MPA and the balance of £19K by GoL. In 2005/06 the LRHCF will cost £ 70K with the MPA and GoL both contributing £35K. At the time of writing, the LRHCF was awaiting a decision from the GLA regarding its contribution to this project.

E. Background papers

• Appendix 1 - London-wide Race Hate Crime Forum Annual Report 2004-05

F. Contact details

Report author: Laurence Gouldbourne

For more information contact:

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

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