POLICE, FIRE AND CRIME PANEL REPORT
|
Meeting Date |
10th October 2024 |
|
Report Title |
Hate Crime Update |
Information should be accessible for all. If you require this information in a different language or format, please contact the Office of the Police, Fire, Crime and Commissioning at info@northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk.
1.0 Purpose of this report
The purpose of this report is to update the Police, Fire and Crime Panel on Hate Crime within York and North Yorkshire. Providing updates from both the Office of Police, Fire, Crime and Commissioning (OPFCC) and North Yorkshire Police (NYP).
2.0 PFCC/OPFCC Activity Update
2.1 Hate crime is a priority for the OPFCC. The Supporting Victims service continues to offer support to people who have experienced crimes such as hate crimes with assistance provided by skilled Victim Care Co-ordinators. They are also an Independent Reporting Centre for Hate Crime, providing a ‘report and support’ service: I or someone I know is experiencing personal abuse | Supporting Victims | North Yorkshire
2.2 The office has commissioned Restorative Solutions who offer a Hate Crime Awareness Course for perpetrators as a Community Resolution Disposal for low level and first time offending with hate crime. This has been completed by 40 perpetrators over the last 12 months.
2.3 The OPFCC has funded Stop Hate UK to develop the Start Safe, Stay Safe app and whilst the focus is more on Violence against women and girls (VAWG), it will link to hate crime too. The App will offer direct links to the police in case of emergency and allows the capturing of audio, video, or photographic evidence in support of their report. The Stop Hate UK 24-hour support team will use their expertise to advise and collaborate with key partners to ensure people get the best support. This will be launched October 2024.
2.4 Hate Crime Awareness week begins on the 14th of October and the OPFCC communications team will be doing joint comms, with NYP and partners, to promote and provide advice, signposting, and messages.
3.0 North Yorkshire Police Activity Update
3.1 The Hate Crime Coordinator Team within North Yorkshire Police (NYP) are part of the Local Policing Support Team, previously known as the Partnership Hub and consult directly with partners including North Yorkshire County Council; York City Council and the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure that victims receive the appropriate support and after care.
3.2 The Hate Crime Coordinator Team is made up of one Sergeant, two hate crime coordinators and a hate crime Police Community Support Officer (PCSO). Together they engage with communities and ensure victims of hate crime and hate occurrences receive the best service NYP can offer by reviewing all incidents of hate crime, offering investigative advice and specialist knowledge along with training for officers, outside agencies, and community groups.
3.3 The team review all reports of hate crime that are reported across the county and provide officers with bespoke and detailed investigative advice on how these enquiries should be completed. This in turn save response officers vital time in relation to having to keep re-visiting victims and witnesses to complete forms. The Hate Crime team make themselves available as a point of contact to the Office in Charge for any questions or any assistance that is required.
3.4 The team also co-ordinate the Strategic Independent Advisory Group (SIAG) which is comprised of members of the public with diverse backgrounds who advise NYP and us help look at policing issues from different perspectives. This diversity of thought is vital to help to continually improve working practices including those regarding hate crime.
3.5 Training has continued with delivery of Hate Crime Training to Student Officers, Special Constables, PCSO’s and the Force Control Room. This increases awareness and enables people to recognise what constitutes a hate crime and equally important the best way to respond.
3.6 The team frequently scrutinise reporting statistics and these also appear in the Hate Crime Problem Profile. Increased reporting can be an indicator of increased confidence but also helps NYP to tailor the response which may differ significantly across communities, victims, offenders, and locations.
3.7 The Hate Crime Team attended York Pride and conducted surveys with the LGBTQ+ community to try and better understand the barriers to reporting hate crime within the community. NYP and the Hate Crime Team will continue attendance and support for Pride events across the force.
3.8 There is an ongoing piece of research work being undertaken by post graduate students at University of York to better understand the barriers to reporting disability hate crime as it is believed this is greatly underreported both locally and nationally. This research will be fed back directly to NYP.
4.0 Victim Care
4.1 Supporting Victims contact every victim of hate crime to offer onwards referrals into Victim Support if needed.
4.2 The Hate Crime Team continue send out victim care packs to every victim of hate crime upon them making a report to NYP. The pack includes a letter from the Assistant Chief Constable, addressed personally to the victim. There is also supporting hate crime literature and signposting to local and national support organisations
4.3 NYP’s Victim Satisfaction Survey is continuing with victims being called back by independent volunteers to gauge how they were dealt with and are asked a specific set of questions. Results are anonymised but themes and feedback are highlighted and acted upon. Such as a need for more regular updates, this also falls in line with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Enhanced service principles.
4.4 NYP have implemented OP Hampshire Hate Occurrence and Crime Procedure (northyorkshire.police.uk) for Police Officers now which means they will be supported better and treated like any other victim and can be referred into staff support networks, Welfare teams and external signposting to support services. Additionally, they are contacted by the Hate Crime Team who can be a point of contact for repeat victims.
5.0 Champions
5.1 There has been further training in Delivery of Community Champions Training to third sector organisations.
5.2 NYP have designated Hate Crime Champions who are subject matter experts to assist colleagues in dealing with reports of hate crime as they do not have capacity to provide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) certification training to all officers and staff.
6.0 Recorded Data for York and North Yorkshire
6.1 Reported incidents and type.
|
Recorded Strand/Characteristic |
Number Reported (02/09/2023-02/09/2024) |
|
Age Related |
6 |
|
Asylum Seeker/Migrant worker |
6 |
|
Disability |
94 |
|
Gypsy/Traveller |
7 |
|
Misogyny |
40 |
|
Racial |
729 |
|
Religion |
58 |
|
Sexual Orientation |
218 |
|
Transphobic |
50 |
|
Vulnerable |
11 |
|
Total |
1,219 |
6.2 Reported incidents by area.
|
District |
Number Reported (02/09/2023-02/09/2024) |
|
Craven |
54 |
|
Hambleton |
83 |
|
Harrogate |
190 |
|
Richmond |
27 |
|
Ryedale |
44 |
|
Scarborough |
251 |
|
Selby |
87 |
|
York |
479 |