London-wide Race Hate Crime Forum

Report: 13
Date: 6 October 2005
By: the Chief Executive and Clerk

Summary

This report asks members to agree to ringfence resources to support the proposed London-wide Race Hate Crime Forum in November 2005.

A. Recommendations

That members agree to ringfence £15,000 from the MPA Race & Diversity Unit budget to support the London-wide Race Hate Crime Forum (LRHCF).

B. Supporting information

Background

1. The London-wide Race Hate Crime Forum (LRHCF) was developed through an 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.

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].

3. The format that the Forum has developed over the last year has proved productive, constructive and successful. This model has served as a template for the proposed MPA Domestic Violence Board (see agenda item 11) At the July 2005 EODB meeting, members considered a report on the workings and governance of the LRHCF and welcomed the London-wide Race Hate Crime Forum Annual Report 2004/’05.

4. Members agreed at the July 2005 EODB meeting that the broader objective is to develop an autonomous multi-agency body which 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.

Proposal

5. At the Full Authority meeting of 28 July 2005, some members expressed some concerns about the levels of financial support that was being provided to the LRHCF and wanted greater transparency.

6. This occurred against a backdrop of the Forum seeking to host its inaugural conference on race hate crime. The aims of the Conference will be to debate current thinking on tackling race hate crime and its interface with faith hate crime and to create opportunities to share and disseminate good practice.

7. To this end, members are invited to ringfence £15,000 from the MPA Race & Diversity Unit budget to support the LRHCF Conference. This sum will match the £15,000 being put forward by the GLA who will be hosting the event at City Hall. The resources will assist in the production of key materials for the conference, as well as towards costs such as publicity and sign language interpreters. Given the resources, both financial and otherwise, the MPA is investing in the LRHCF and its relationship to the Authority; it is appropriate that members have a view about the LRHCF’s future development

C. Race and equality impact

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 work of the LRHCF contributes significantly to the MPA’s progress towards meeting this positive duty.

D. Financial implications

It is proposed that half of the costs towards the LRHCF conference will be met by the MPA through the Race & Diversity Unit’s budget. This conference will form a major contribution 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. As a result of this decision, a clear audit trail for work supporting the Forum is being created.

E. Background papers

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

F. Contact details

Report author: Laurence Gouldbourne, MPA.

For more information contact:

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

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback