Agenda item

Challenge it, Report it and Stop it is the Government’s Strategy to address hate crime.

I am therefore grateful to the Deputy Mayor for recently acknowledging the significant harm to the equalities agenda in Doncaster. 

This Scrutiny Panel is today looking at crime figures including 92 Hate Crimes for the reported 12 months. 

And whilst I have no idea whether the figures are accurate or not, I would welcome clarity on what hate crime definition is being used, how many of the 92 hate crimes resulted in an arrest and/or charge and how have victims and BME citizens been involved in the evaluation of reporting centres and improving hate crime outcomes in Doncaster.

Taken at face value Cllr Jones comments regarding the stated significant harm to the equalities agenda could be seen to undermine not only vulnerable groups confidence in reporting hate crime but also cast doubt on the integrity of the partnership arrangements in Doncaster.

It is my understanding:

A hate crime is defined as “any criminal offence which is perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards someone based on a personal characteristic”.

The stated significant harm to the equalities agenda in Doncaster is to be frank a euphemism for racial abuse.  The well documented cuts to services and support appeared to be based on racial characteristics and continues today.

At the time as now only a few people have stood up and challenged it and tried to understand how this impacts on people's lives and the governance of the public authorities in Doncaster.

It is my understanding that misconduct in public office is an offence. 

Concerns about the inciting of racial hatred which are reflected in the Audit Commission Report 2010 para 87 were similarly down played by those with the power to perpetuate institutionalised racism and racial inequalities in Doncaster.

Through a protracted FOI process we learn that important equalities briefing notes were kept away from the then democratically elected Mayor of Doncaster and the decision making process.

To this day, black and minority ethnic citizens are being denied proportionate and meaningful opportunities to participate in the policing and community safety issues that impact on their lives: These include

Hate crime

CSE

Police and Crime Plan

FGM

Radicalisation

Forced Marriage 

Honour Base Violence 

Cyber Crime

Stop and Search 

Human Trafficking

Victims of hate crimes are excluded from influencing where reporting centres are located and evaluated.

Ideas are put forward and then ignored, including the promised feedback from the meeting which was held to discuss people's concern regarding the BME cuts and the alleged inciting of racial hatred. 

Chair , you may recall attending this meeting. It was the one I was asked by DMBC to Co chair. I did so in good faith whilst expecting that DMBC would have the decency to provide some feedback and information regarding what they were to do to address the significant harm to the equalities agenda.

Hence, the figures on hate crime are simply figures with no real meaning until there is a real effort to engage with victims, understand the under reporting and to provide information in a manner which makes it easy to compare and contrast.

As a victim of hate crime all I would want is for the authorities to take hate crime seriously.  I would like my voice to be heard and the perpetrators held to account.

 I should not have to wait 6 years to find out why DMBC should fail to apologise to me for sending me a FOI response with a fake signature of its most senior Asian Officer.

Just to be very clear, the signature on the letter infront of you is not Mr Murtuja's and the act of faking his signature and sending me the FOI letter was still done even when he said no.

The blame the victim mentality has resulted in this incident being played down without any real understanding that it is such behaviour by DMBC and its partners why increasing numbers of black and Asian people are openly stating that they have little or no confidence in the public authorities in Doncaster.

Before coming to this meeting, I visited a co owner of one of the largest taxi firms in Doncaster.  I am reliably informed that the vast majority of racial abuse and attacks on predominantly Asian taxi drivers are still going unreported, such is the problem that some drivers are taking the law into their own hands!

In conclusion and to finish on a positive note , I would like to explore the merit of piloting an initiative which harnesses the enthusiasm, experience and knowledge of BME citizens and its many credible voices, including Cllr Khan who many years ago attended Police Liaison Meetings with BME citizens.

Such people could help to raise awareness of hate crime and other policing/community safety issues, whilst helping to determine and evaluate the location of the reporting centres. 

Hate crime damages society and undermines the diversity and tolerance we should instead be celebrating.  I hope from this meeting today there is renewed effort from DMBC and its partner agencies to listen to victims and supporting the most vulnerable as it is important that the public and public authorities come together to challenge, report and stop hatred wherever they see it.