Forum to tackle race hate crime
A Race-Hate Crimes Forum – thought to be the first of its kind in Europe – is being launched today.
The Forum, which brings together 30 organisations including the police, courts and voluntary groups, aims to provide support for victims of racial hatred and reduce the occurrence of such crimes in London.
The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) led initiative comes just weeks after the tenth anniversary of the murder of Stephen Lawrence.
The Macpherson Report into his death concluded that “institutional racism” existed within the police force and recommended the Home Office, police services, local government and other agencies create a comprehensive, unified system for recording all racial crimes.
Peter Herbert, a member of the MPA who will chair the Forum, which is being launched at an event at the House of Commons today, explained that it will help bring about the uniform approach the Macpherson Report called for.
Mr Herbert said, “The establishment of the Race Hate Crime Forum is a landmark event in the capital and the first of its kind in Europe.”
He continued, “It is still the case that race hate crime is one of the most evil and insidious forms of discrimination, which needs to be combated with all the resources available to Londoners.”
The London Race Hate Crimes Working Group was set up in July 2001 and the Forum will co-ordinate work in helping victims and tackling crime.
