Combating hate crime - Islington Community Safety Board

48/05
21 September 2005

The Islington Community Safety Board is holding a public meeting on Thursday 22 September to discuss hate crime, racism, domestic violence, Islamophobia and homophobia in Islington and how local communities can work with the police, council and partners to combat these crimes.

The Board, established by the Metropolitan Police Authority in partnership with the local community, is made up of representatives from the borough’s diverse communities.

It enables local people to engage with Islington police, the council and the MPA in constructive discussion about crime, community safety issues and local responses.

Islington borough police and the local council will discuss what they are doing to prevent hate crime in the borough, encourage victims to report crimes and deal with those responsible.

Jennette Arnold, MPA link member for Islington, said:

“We will not tolerate hate crime in our midst. This important meeting will allow people in the borough to advise the police and council on how they can best tackle these crimes in Islington.

“Nobody should be a victim because of the colour of their skin, their religion, beliefs, sexuality or gender. London’s police mean business in confronting hate crime and we know that this works most effectively with the community’s help.

“I want to see as many people in Islington as possible at this and future meetings to make an active contribution to community safety – together we can make a difference.”

Councillor Jyoti Vaja, Islington's executive member for housing and community safety, said:

“We are proud of our diversity here in Islington. Some people try to divide us, to turn us against one another. We in Islington Council are determined not to let this happen. Cracking down on hate crime is an important part of this work.”

Barry Norman, Islington police Borough Commander, said:

“The police take hate crime very seriously and I welcome this opportunity to hear the people of Islington’s views on how to combat it. I shall also take the opportunity to tell them what we are already doing to make sure that Islington is not a place where hate can thrive. Please come along to the meeting on Thursday to add your voice to all the others in the borough who oppose all forms of hate crime, and who want to do something about it”.

Notes to editors

1. Time and venue: 18:00 – 20:00, The Main Hall, London City YMCA, 8 Errol Street, EC1Y 8SE. The venue has disabled access and facilities.

2. The Islington Community Safety Board is made up of 35 representatives from the borough’s diverse communities and is attended by the borough police commander, the lead councillor for community safety and the Metropolitan Police Authority link member.

3. Islington is the first borough in London to get a Community Safety Board, but a number of other boroughs have already expressed interest in this approach and some of the capital’s existing Community Police Consultative Groups are looking to adapt and restructure themselves along similar lines.

4. Islington Community Safety Board holds themed public meetings one evening every two months. Dates of future meetings are:

• Thursday 17 November 2005
• Tuesday 17 January 2006
• Thursday 16 March 2006
• Thursday 18 May 2006

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