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Approach |
Reasoning |
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Information & publicity(Checklists for publicity campaigns are available at http://www.lamar.colostate.edu/~hallahan/hpubty.htm - although not all the suggestions may be relevant to issues around racist crime).
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Metropolitan Police Racial & Violent Task Force publicity campaign, designed to increase intelligence reports as well as incident reports of hate crime, including race crime. The advertising campaign with posters on the tube network, buses, in newspapers and at police stations had won a public service advertising award.Contact:
Kirklees Police have a bulletin board/information page on the local cable television network. This is used to encourage people to report incidents of racial harassment and provide details of contacts. This is part of the wider community information pages on the network, which appear as text pages twice a day for 20 minutes at a time. there is no cost to the police for using the page as it is a community page.Contact: Luton ‘Tell Us" campaign, involves the display of posters and leaflets in council offices, shopping centre and other prominent sites. The campaign has been advertised on buses and on local radio. Local agencies also use a ‘Tell Us’ bus to publicise racial harassment issues in Luton & Dunstable.Contact: |
Outreach Work |
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Wandsworth Racial Harassment Detached Youth Project - On the Patmore Estate in Wandsworth the amount of racial harassment fell significantly after the establishment of a youth club and work by a detached youth worker.Contact: |
Diversity Training |
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In Milton Keynes , the police liaison officer & the local Race Equality Council run a joint programme of race diversity training to Year 9 pupils at a school with a history of racial harassment problems. Session include an icebreaker exercise exploring racial stereotypes, a video in which young people describe their won experiences of racial harassment, and a role play exercise in which they are asked to devise a plan to combat racial harassment in their school. the Race equality Council has now expanded its education programme to 20 local schools.Metropolitan Police’s Racial & Violent Crime Task Force (CO24) runs a four week residential course for police officers in community safety units. It covers evidence-gathering, proactive policing, camera competency, forensic evidence, and diversity. There is also a two-week course for Detective Constables covering diversity, lay advice and family liaison. In Bristol Support Against Racial Incidents (SARI) provides staff in several agencies with training on victim’s perspectives of race crimes. Topics covered include tackling incident as; legal obligations; working with lawyers; supporting victims and the effects of racial violence. SARI also provides training to local Council staff, police and other multi-agency forum members. |
Working with traders |
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In Newcastle, the Police Racial Incident Investigation Unit is working with the West End Traders Association to tackle the racial harassment of shopkeepers and other traders. |
Risk Assessment Programmes |
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The London Borough of Merton’s Housing Department has piloted a risk assessment scheme for new black and ethnic minority tenants on three council estates. The scheme is designed to identify tenants at particular riskof harassment so that they can be offered additional support. Applicants who receive an offer of housing on one of these estates are scored on a series of variables that have been found to correlate with racist victimisation. The variables include: a previous history of victimisation of the new tenant or members of their household at a previous address; any previous history or racial harassment of tenants at the property; known perpetrators living near the property. if the household appears to be at high risk of harassment, local police visit or telephone every week to check whether there have been any problems. the police will also arrange for them to have an Incident Diary and a pendant alarm linked to the Council’s 24-hour Careline Centre.Contact: The South London Probation Service is developing a pilot programme to screen convicted offenders in Greenwich & Merton to identify potential racist perpetrators. All white offenders will be screened for racist attitudes at the pre-sentence stage as art of the general assessment. Those convicted of racist offences will receive a longer more detailed assessment. Offenders identified as potential racists perpetrators will be referred to a programme that will include aggression replacement techniques and developing strong positive non-racist identity. Contact:
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Good lettings, transfer policies and tenancy agreements |
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Islington Crime Reduction Partnership’s Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) & Parental Control Agreements (PCAs) These contracts were created as a way of tackling anti-social behaviour on estates and on the streets. They aim to stop threatening behaviour & harassment, racist behaviour, graffiti, criminal damage, vandalism and sub-criminal behaviour, which adversely affect the quality of life of residents. An ABC is an individual written agreement by a youth with the local housing office & local police not to carry on with certain identifiable acts, which could be construed as anti-social behaviour. It has been designed for 10-18 year olds, although it is flexible and can be used occasionally where appropriate on over 18s if they are still live at home in a Council, rented or privately owned property with their parent(s)/guardian(s). If the child were under 10, the parent(s)/guardian(s) would sign up to a Parental Control Agreement. This is the same as an ABC except that the parent(s)/guardian(s) take full responsibility for their child’s behaviour.These contracts are not legally binding, but they can be cited in a Civil Court for an application for an Eviction Order or at a Magistrates Court in support of an ASBO. The contracts usually last 6 months, although they can be renewed. Islington Council also informs all prospective tenants, regardless of their ethnicity, of any history of racial harassment at the property that they have been offered. Contact: John Hourihan Tel: 0207 527 3273 E:Mail: john.hourihan@islington.gov.ukRochdale Ashiana Housing Association have built new properties outside traditional Asian and black neighbourhoods in the town to develop more mixed communities. Existing residents were kept informed of developments and an Induction Worker introduced new Black and Ethnic Minority tenants to neighbours when the development was complete. Greater Manchester Police advised Ashiana on the safety and security aspects of the new homes’ design. The tenants have reported no reports of racial harassment. Contact: Newham's Council’s Housing Tenancy Agreement contains a specific clause stating clearly that racial harassment breaches the conditions of the tenancy, which is a ground for a possession order or an injunction. Contact Any examples of a tenant exercising the Right to Buy or Right to Acquire where a convenant prohibiting racial harassment is included in the conveyance or grant? Any examples of a shared ownership lease containing covenants on racial harassment? Any examples of Councils adopting introductory tenancies, which allow for easier eviction of new tenants who racially harass their neighbours?
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Mapping Racist Incidents Hotspots |
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Targeting Racist Incidents Hotspots |
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Bradford & Northern Housing Association’s ‘Project Solo’ in Cleveland concentrates surveillance, including the use of miniature CCTV cameras, on racist crime hotspots.Contact: http://www.hanrattyb.freeserve.co.ukDerby police have increased patrols in racial harassment hot spots. Beat managers have been introduced to work closely with the local community in these areas. Contact:
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Target Hardening Measures |
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Barnet Housing Department offers a ‘perimeter protection service’ that includes spy-holes, strengthened hinges and fire-proof letter boxes. New fencing, block lighting and upgrading of locks have also been carried out.Newham Council, in partnership with local agencies will install mobile CCTV cameras in appropriate cases to amass evidence. Contact: Croydon Housing Department supplies lockable parking posts for its tenants on estates. Experience has shown that an argument between neighbours over parking spaces can escalate into racial harassment. Contact: |
Restorative Justice |
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Thames Valley Police have used restorative justice in four cases of racial harassment. Further details can be found on the force’s website at: http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/rj/index.htmContact: |
Third Party Reporting
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Ipswich Third Party Reporting Centres are based in schools, libraries, medical clinics, a community centre, a mosque and citizens’ Advice Bureau. Staff have been trained by the Suffolk Constabulary to take reports. A common reporting form is used to record and monitor incidents. The Racial harassment Officer at the local Racial Equality Council collates the reports for statistical purposes, and refers cases to other agencies as required.Contact: In Bristol, a network of reporting agencies has been established throughout the city. This includes community centres, cultural associations, and libraries. Hospitals are also encouraged to facilitate reports by their users. Police provide training to staff and community members on taking reports. Contact:
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Victim & Witness Information Packs
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Leeds Racial Harassment Project has produced an information pack for people suffering from racial harassment. The pack entitled Racial Harassment: Don’t Put Up With It! covers; definitions & types of racial incidents; racial harassment projects and support work; preventative measures that people at risk of race crime can take to safeguard themselves; reporting to the police and the use of legal remedies; reporting incidents to the Housing & Educational departments, information for parents and young people experiencing racial harassment; a record sheet to record incidents, and guidance on keeping records; and contact details of local agencies .Contact: |
Interpretation & TranslationThe National Register of Public Service Interpreters can be accessed at: http://www.iol.org.ukThere are commercial services offering simultaneous three-way telephone interpretation e.g. Language Line. Information is available at: http://www.languageline.co.uk |
In Milton Keynes, the Police, Victim Support, the Racial Equality Council and the local authority use Milton Keynes Community Language Service. This was initially set up by the multi-agency Anti-Racial Harassment Group, but is now independent. Agencies pay an annual subscription to use the service. Costs are partly subsidised by the local authority. All translators are accredited.Contact: |
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Re-housing of victims & witnesses |
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Waltham Forest Witness Mobility Scheme has produced a protocol designed to facilitate the fast tracking of vulnerable/intimidated witnesses into permanent and/or temporary housing, including properties outside the Borough. The partners are registered Social landlords, the Metropolitan Police Service and the Local Authority. The Scheme is a pilot project supported by the Home Office and the local Government Association.Contact: Chris Speed Pager No. 07654 323759 |
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Investigating racist incidents |
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For police good practice on investigating racist incidents see ACPO Guide To Identifiying and Combating Hate Crimehttp://www.acpo.police.uk/policies/index.htmlFor Local Authority good practice on investigating racist incidents see:http://www.RaceActionNet For Registered Social Landlord Good Practice see ????? For CPS good practice see |
Using Professional Witnesses |
Give evidence in criminal & civil cases |
Contact: the Social Landlords Crime & Nuisance Group at: |
Repeat victimisation
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Protecting victims from further crime can reduce crime reoccurance |
Any e.g. under the Crime Reduction Programme ISSP? |