Race hate crime: a problem for society

RHCF 08
16 November 2005

Issued on behalf of London-wide Race Hate Crimes Forum by the MPA

The London-Wide Race Hate Crime Forum Conference 2005

The London-wide Race Hate Crime Forum (LRHCF) Conference 2005, taking place today (Thursday 17 November) at City Hall, London, will explore how statutory agencies and partners in the voluntary sector can tackle race hate crime in our communities in the 21st century.

Race hate crime remains a real and urgent concern for many people across London and the conference will investigate strategic responses, identify and share best practice, and debate initiatives to tackle this corrosive problem.

The Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP, Minister of State for Crime, Security and Communities, will give the keynote speech. Other participants include Cindy Butts of the Metropolitan Police Authority, Lee Jasper, Policy Director on Equalities and Policing to the Mayor of London, Doreen Lawrence, DAC Rose Fitzpatrick (MPS), DAC Brian Paddick (MPS) and Peter Herbert, chair of the Forum.

The conference is aimed at practitioners. A series of panel discussions will enable those attending to ask questions throughout the day, while a short drama performance from the ‘Kids Ahead Theatre School’, written specially for the conference, will highlight the impact of race hate crime on the individual and the broader community.

Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP said:

“Partnership working is essential to achieve harmonious communities. The work of the Race Hate Crime Forum contributes greatly towards this by providing practical action to deliver change on the ground.

“I am pleased to be delivering the keynote address at the conference, and look forward to hearing more about the valuable work of the Forum in the future.”

Peter Herbert, chair of the LRHCF, said:

“This conference, the first hosted by the London-wide Race Hate Crime Forum, is vital. It acts as proof that race hate crime remains a terrible reality for all of London’s communities.

“This conference will help Londoners, and especially those in positions of responsibility who can make changes in the way we respond to these crimes, to work in partnership to ensure London is a no-go area for all hate crime. We expect it to be an example of best practice for other cities in Europe.”

Doreen Lawrence OBE said:

“Race hate crimes are on the increase up and down Britain. We have seen an increase in racist attacks that have led to murder. The loss of lives and suffering continues years after the publication of the Lawrence Inquiry. There is an urgent need to look at how to keep race hate crime on the agenda. Having this conference is a start to addressing this issue.”

Commander Rose Fitzpatrick, Metropolitan Police Service, Diversity and Citizen Focus, also a panel member at the conference, said:

“The MPS understands how corrosive race hate crime is for individuals and communities. We welcome the launch of the LRHCF report and continue to be wholly committed to tackling race hate crime by working with communities and partners across London.”

Notes to editors

1. Conference objectives:

• Create an opportunity for current debate on race hate crime
• Bring together organisations involved in supporting and delivering on the race hate crime agenda
• Launch the first London-wide Race Hate Crime Forum annual report
•  Publicly announce the work of the Forum to London

2. Conference activities:

• An opportunity to share what currently exists in tackling race hate crime
• Strategic advice and steps taken by organisations to address issues of race hate crime
• Identifying good practice examples from organisational and legal perspectives
• An opportunity to hear and participate in debate from a panel of experts in their respective fields

3. The London-wide Race Hate Crime Forum aims to improve the co-ordination between the key agencies responsible for dealing with victims of race hate crime and to improve the effectiveness with which perpetrators of race hate crimes are brought to justice. Its overall purpose is to help reduce and prevent race hate crimes, improve the confidence and satisfaction of victims in reporting crimes, and to promote consistent service across London.

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