Race Equality Project at Harmony House

Race Equality Project(REP) : 

1 Race Equality Project(REP)

What is a hate incident? : 

2 What is a hate incident? A hate incident is any offence committed against a person or property because of their perceived membership to a social group. Social groups can be defined by race, colour, ethnic origin, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, class, etc Some of these incidents are criminal in nature and therefore prosecutable by the police.

Examples of criminal incidents : 

3 Examples of criminal incidents Assault (GBH, ABH, Common) Criminal Damage to Property (slogans, graffiti) Offensive Behaviour (threatening, abusive and insulting) Harassment (designed to cause the victim alarm or distress)

What is harassment? : 

4 What is harassment? Harassment can take several forms and is any behaviour that targets an individual, a family or a group, and which intimidates, dominates or harms and deprives them of the right to the ‘peaceful and quiet enjoyment’ of their home. It has been defined as: ‘Offensive, annoying or disagreeable behaviour that impacts negatively on a resident’s quality of life in and around his/her home’. It includes abusive or insulting behaviour - written or verbal, violence and threats of violence, abusive graffiti, threats or attacks against an individual, their family or their possessions.

Non-criminal incidents : 

5 Non-criminal incidents Incidents that are not severe enough to warrant police involvement or prosecution. These types of incidents are generally made up of discriminatory attitudes and actions. These incidents have the ability to cause enduring emotional and psychological stress.

Race hate could look like these : 

6 Race hate could look like these

Slide 7: 

7 You could be a victim of hate crime: At a day centre, club or pub At home, work or school On a bus or train In the street In fact, anywhere…

What does the experience feel like? : 

8 What does the experience feel like? ‘‘The incident made me think that due to my different skin colour we would never be accepted regardless of how many campaigns, or racial equality schemes are carried out’’ ‘‘ It made me feel like I don't belong here, however this is my home, I don't know anywhere else’’ (Race Hate Crime report in Cardiff 2009 pages 3, 31)

Slide 9: 

9 Some workers most at risk in Barking & Dagenham Security Staff Traffic Wardens Hospital Staff Cleaners and Refuse Collectors Frontline staff, etc

By providing the public with alternative ways of reporting hate crime the council is helping to create a healthy, safe and secure environment in which people can live and work.The Council and its partner agencies take hate crime very seriously. These agencies include: : 

10 By providing the public with alternative ways of reporting hate crime the council is helping to create a healthy, safe and secure environment in which people can live and work.The Council and its partner agencies take hate crime very seriously. These agencies include: HIP Panel Stop Hate Victim Support Anti-Social Behaviour Team Safer Neighbourhood Team Community Safety Team Domestic Violence Team Young Offenders Team Caress Reporting Sites What Barking and Dagenham is doing

Council interventions may include: : 

11 Council interventions may include: Offering security improvements for your home The provision of CCTV at your address Anti-Social Behaviour remedies (Noise team intervention, ASB orders, etc) Referrals to specialist support agencies The provision of temporary accommodation and rehousing Graffiti removal, etc

Where Harmony House comes in : 

12 Where Harmony House comes in

Referral Routes : 

13 Referral Routes Faith Groups BAME Forum Other LBBD Departments Community Safety Anti Social Behaviour Team Domestic Violence Team Adult Safeguarding Team Other 3rd Party referrals: Stop Hate Children’s Centres & Schools Community Voluntary Groups Self Referrals (Harmony House REP webpage / calls) Hate Incident Panel (HIP) Victim Support Anti-Social Behaviour Team Community Safety Unit (MET) Children’s Services Youth Offending Team Safer Neighbourhood Teams Caress/LGBT Housing Team Domestic Violence Team

Race Hate Casework - Harmony House aims to: : 

14 Race Hate Casework - Harmony House aims to: Educate people on how to go about correctly gathering evidence and monitoring incidents. Be an advocate, a voice, for the victim. Coordinate joint, inter-agency action plans, i.e. act as an intermediary in ensuring clients cases are progressing as planned while keeping clients informed of progress and what is expected of them. Encourage victims to report race hate crime to the police. Raise awareness of the damaging affects of racial discrimination, using targeted publicity campaigns to promote equality and community cohesion within Barking and Dagenham. Provide resilience building training for victims of race hate crime, helping them to cope better.

CAN YOU TAKE THE POWER BACK ? : 

15 CAN YOU TAKE THE POWER BACK ?

Working together builds communities. : 

16 Working together builds communities. Race hate shatters lives…

Slide 17: 

Race Equality Project Harmony House Dagenham Baden Powell Close off Goresbrook Road Dagenham, Essex RM96XN Tel. 02085268200 Fax. 02085268210 rep@harmonyhousedagenham.org.uk www.harmonyhousedagenham.org.uk Free Royalty Free Music by DanoSongs.com