Agenda item

The Council received a presentation on Hate Crime which was given by Maxine Stavrianakos (Head of Neighbourhood Intervention and Tenant Support, Sheffield City Council) and Acting Chief Inspector Ian Proffitt (South Yorkshire Police). The presentation was followed by a question and answer session.

The presentation outlined definitions of hate crime together with the national context which was that hate crime was significantly underreported but in recent years had increased as people became more confident in reporting incidents. The local situation was summarised, including the upward trend in reported incidents, increased successful outcomes and ‘hotspots’ in the City centre and on public transport.

Developments included a multi-agency strategic group to provide a City-wide strategy and operational response and a local action plan had been produced. A Scrutiny Task Group had undertaken an exercise on hate crime and had looked at the issue of third party reporting, which enabled people to report incidents to a third party organisation, which was then referred to the police. There was regular attendance by the police at Equality Hubs and continued attention was given to awareness, resources, sign-posting for victims and training for first line supervisors.

Members of the Council asked questions and made comments to which Maxine Stavrianakos and Acting Chief Inspector Ian Proffitt responded, as summarised below:

In response to a question concerning schools, it was confirmed that work took place with schools in relation inclusion and cohesion and this linked with the Council’s cohesion policy. Early intervention was essential although it was acknowledged that it would take time to alter people’s attitudes. There was a dedicated resource for schools in Sheffield. As regards the Prevent agenda, work was carried out with partners including colleagues in the Children, Young People and Families portfolio.

Stop Hate UK had, with South Yorkshire Police, developed a Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel, to review the way in which incidents of hate crime were investigated. The Tell Mama initiative was an important part of this process of improving the way such incidents were addressed. Financial resources had also been made available from the Police and Crime Commissioner and work took place with other local authorities.

Concerns were expressed about incidents which occurred at the Pride event in Sheffield during which people were verbally abused and it was confirmed that the Police and Pride were in communication and that the events which took place during Pride had been duly recorded as an incident. There were cases which supported freedom of speech under the Human Rights Act and there was a fine line between people expressing their views and those views being insulting to another person. Incidents motivated by bias were recorded on the crime system. Some incidents were not a criminal offence and were recorded as a non-crime incident. There was challenge in relation to the definition and categorisation of incidents.

In relation to prevention, ‘hotspots’ were being examined and it had been found that for example in the night-time economy, people working in take away establishments were subject to abuse and incidents also took place on the bus network, in relation to which work was taking place with Hope Not Hate and bus operators and drivers. Anti-social behaviour legislation could also be used to deal with hate crime incidents and some incidents were recorded through neighbour disputes.

The raising of awareness was thought to be fundamental with regard to demonstrating acceptable behaviours and this would include events which raised awareness and promoted tolerance. People working on the ground were being trained and the relevant services also spoke with community groups and organisations about these issues.

As the time limit for the meeting had been reached, The Lord Mayor asked Members to contact Maxine Stravrianakos and Acting Chief Inspector Ian Proffitt direct if they had further questions to put to them on the subject of hate crime.

The Council noted the presentation and thanked Maxine Stavrianakos and Acting Chief Inspector Ian Proffitt for their contributions to the meeting.