Agenda item

This report provides information in support of this Hate Crime Strategy Scrutiny Review together with an outline of the planned work for delivery of a new Hate Crime Strategy for 2017-19.

The Task Group considered a report that provided information in support of this Hate Crime Strategy Scrutiny Review, together with an outline of the planned work for delivery of a new Hate Crime Strategy for 2017-19.

Officers gave an update and some background information on the scrutiny topic, and confirmed that the Safer York Partnership Board had recently agreed to incorporate the next Hate Crime Strategy into the new Community Safety Plan for 2017-19. 

Members queried the rationale behind that decision and expressed concern that the Hate Crime Strategy would have less of an impact if dealt with in that way. They requested that Councillor Carr be invited to address the next Communities and Environment Policy and Scrutiny Committee meeting in order to explain the decision.

Members also questioned whether the suggested timeframe for the scrutiny review detailed in the report would fit with the delivery of the next Community Safety Plan and what public consultation was required as part of that process.

It was also requested by Members that the legal position on CYC having a discrete Hate Crime Strategy be clarified ahead of the next Task Group meeting.

The Task Group went on to consider the North Yorkshire Police (NYP) Hate Crime Problem Profile Refresh 2015 and queried the implementation status of the recommendations in the document. The Task Group agreed that without knowing their status, or how effective they had been, it would not be possible to use the information in the document to inform their consideration of whether any changes were required to the current strategic aims and objectives in the Hate Crime Strategy.

As Officers were unable to confirm the status of those recommendations, Members requested that a representative from NYP be invited to attend their next meeting to discuss the document and the effectiveness of any recommendations implemented since 2015.

Members questioned how effectively the Council were engaging some community groups and suggested that members of York’s Racial Equality Network and other representative groups be consulted ahead of the draft being completed. It was agreed that due to the limited time available this could be done via email.

Members felt it was important that financial information on how the strategy would be delivered was made available to the Task Group. This would ensure the strategy was viable and meant they could consider ways to attract additional funding.

It was also highlighted that as CYC was part of the York Human Rights City Network, which was aiming to make York a Human Rights City, that now may be a good time to tie in their aims with those of the Hate Crime Strategy. Officers suggested an update on this from the Council’s lead on Human Rights (Assistant Director Communities and Equalities).

Following further discussion it was

Resolved:

1.   That Members continue the review with the previously agreed objectives and note the amended timeframe for producing the strategy.

2.   That, in order to inform the review, Officers prepare a draft Hate Crime Strategy so that Members can better see how the document may look as part of the wider Community Safety Plan.

3.   That the timeframe for the review be revised to take account of the requirements for delivering a new Community Safety Plan.

4.   That a future Task Group meeting be arranged for mid January 2017.

Reason:     To progress the scrutiny review in line with scrutiny procedures, protocols and work plans.