Issue - meetings

This paper outlines the background to the development of a new Hate Crime Strategy for the City of York and asks Members to approve the strategy and give their commitment to the crucial role that City of York Council plays to provide the support necessary to bring offenders to justice and protect vulnerable victims.

RESOLVED:       That Cabinet approve Option 1 to endorse the Hate Crime Strategy for York and give commitment to the key role that City of York Council will play in the implementation of the strategy and its associated work plans.  

REASON:            To ensure that the city has an effective approach to preventing Hate Crime and addressing the impacts of Hate Crime in a coordinated and victim centred manner.

Members considered a report which outlined the background to the development of a new Hate Crime Strategy for the City of York. It asked for approval of the strategy and a commitment to the crucial role that City of York Council played to provide the support necessary to bring offenders to justice and protect vulnerable victims.

Since the launch of the first Hate Crime Strategy in 2008, the number of hate crimes reported to the Police had dropped, however consultation had suggested that under reporting of hate crime incidents was a significant factor.

There had been extensive consultation undertaken on the strategy details of which were set out at paragraphs 6 to 11 and at Annex B of the report and a Community Impact Assessment at Annex F. Flow charts showing the current and proposed reporting processes were set out at Annexes C and D and the proposed future model for dealing with hate crime at Annex E.

The options put forward for consideration were:

Option 1 – Endorse the strategy and to give commitment to the key role that City of York Council will play in the implementation of the strategy and its associated work plans.  

Option 2 – Ask officers to amend the strategy.

The Cabinet Member confirmed that this appeared to be a growing crime with the reported figures not representing what went on in the wider city. He referred to the need to acknowledge that these issues were being taken seriously and confirmed the important part that YREN played in shaping and assisting the implementation.

Reference was also made to the part the media played in this strategy and to their responsibilities and to the education of staff.

RESOLVED:       That Cabinet approve Option 1 to endorse the Hate Crime Strategy for York and give commitment to the key role that City of York Council will play in the implementation of the strategy and its associated work plans. ^1. 

REASON:            To ensure that the city has an effective approach to preventing Hate Crime and addressing the impacts of Hate Crime in a coordinated and victim centred manner.