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Search forSafer Bristol Partnership: 'Hate crime needs to be reported'
Monday, November 24, 2008, 14:44
Four men were sentenced at Bristol Crown Court last month after pleading guilty to violent disorder for the attack, in the Hillfields area.
This is what the Safer Bristol Partnership aims for – hate crime being reported so offenders can be punished.
The partnership has set up hate crime reporting stations throughout Bristol to ensure people physically or verbally abused because of their race, disability, religion or sexuality can receive support.
There are 15 reporting centres at places such as Barton Hill Settlement, Bristol Community Housing Foundation in Horfield, in some health centres and advice centres.
Victims can make an informal, confidential report to a trained member of staff.
The report is passed to Bristol City Council's equalities unit, which records the incident and can refer the victim to agencies that offer support.
By encouraging the reporting of hate crime the council, police and their partner agencies can recognise problem areas and put direct resources where they are most needed.
Crime linked to race, religion, sexuality or disability is always investigated by Avon and Somerset Constabulary's hate crime unit, which deals with 1,200 incidents a year.
"From a policing perspective we find out who the offenders are and take the appropriate action," said the unit's head, James McAninch.
"A lot of work is done door to door and we spend a lot of time with victims. All cases are discussed to make sure that everything possible has been done."
In the summer of 2007 90 people reported incidents in the Hillfields area alone, ranging from spitting and stone throwing to stabbings and cars being torched.
Bristol City Council and police have since worked hard to build bridges between groups that live on the estate.
Fourteen families whose children were involved in racial harassment were identified and letters were sent to 1,000 households which reiterate the zero tolerance policy towards racist behaviour.
"Bristol has a very diverse population and, as in other cities, hate crime is often under reported," said the head of community safety with Safer Bristol, Alison Comley.
"This campaign is about making Bristol safer for all our communities."
Cabinet councillor Derek Pickup, said: "Hate crime is one of the most under-reported crimes in the city.
"These new reporting stations aim to provide a friendly, welcoming environment where victims can report incidents informally and will hopefully encourage more people to come forward and report this type of crime."
Brian McCutcheon, chairman of the Safer Bristol Partnership, said: "Quality of life in Bristol includes treating people with respect and consideration. Hostility and hate has no place in a city like Bristol."
To find out more about what is classed as hate crime, ways to report a crime and where to go to get support, visit www.saferbristol.org.uk.
Reporting stations can be found at Eastville Health Centre, East Park, Eastville; Barton Hill Settlement, 43 Ducie Road, Barton Hill; The Old Bank Advice Centre, Church Road, Redfield; Wellspring Healthy Living Centre, Beam Street, Barton Hill; Fishponds Primary Care Centre, Beechwood Road, Fishponds; Neighbourhood Management Centre, 212 Avonvale Road, Lawrence Hill; Youth cafe, Crypt Youth Centre, St Luke's Church, Church Road, Barton Hill; Bristol Community Housing Foundation (BCHF), 400 Filton Avenue, Horfield; SCART - Southmead Contact and Resource Team, 169 Greystoke Avenue, Southmead; North Bristol Advice Centre, 2 Gainsborough Square, Lockleaze; South Bristol NHS Walk-In Centre, 5 Knowle West Health Park, Downton Road; Hartcliffe and Withywood Community Partnership, @symes Community Building, Peterson Avenue, Hartcliffe; Citizen's Advice Bureau, 12 Broad Street, Bristol; King Square House, Bristol PCT, 26-27 King Square, Bristol; City Gate NHS Walk-In Centre, 33-34 Broad Street, Bristol.
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