Agenda item

The purpose of this paper is to answer the Police and Crime Panel’s question with regard to: what work has been done by the PCC to tackle Hate Crime and ensure none of Surrey’s communities are subjected to discrimination.

Witnesses:

David Munro - Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner

Key points raised in the discussion:

1.      The PCC introduced the report and in response to a Panel member’s question he noted that he supported the recent announcement by the Government to record misogyny as a hate crime following the recent Sarah Everard case and provided assurance that Surrey Police was responding to the matter.

2.      A Panel member highlighted the recent shootings in Georgia against Asian Americans and denounced former president Trump’s terming Covid-19 the ‘Chinese virus’ which had encouraged hate crime against Asian-Americans; he asked whether there was a rise in hate crime against British Asians.

-       In response, the PCC stated that he had not been briefed on any recent specific attacks against the Asian population in Surrey, however he noted the rise in hate crimes a few years ago in response to the rise in attacks by Islamist terrorists.

3.      A Panel member sought clarification regarding paragraph 3.4 on page 78 on whether the ‘third of offenders’ that had mental health issues referred to offenders in hate crime, or whether it referred to offenders more generally.

-     In response, the PCC noted that the third related specifically to hate crime offenders.

-     The PCC recognised the need to address the prevalence of mental health issues noting a recent meeting with the Chief Constable and the Chief Executive of the Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in which a new task group was agreed to ensure that people with mental health issues who came to Surrey Police’s attention were to be treated in a more medical way.

4.   A Panel member welcomed the collaboration between Surrey Police and Stop Hate UK but noted that it had taken a low number of calls on the issue of hate crime. She queried whether it might be possible to persuade local authorities to link in with Stop Hate Crime UK to encourage reporting, such as through training staff on front desks so residents could walk in and easily report hate crime.

-       In response, the PCC would take that point away especially as lockdown restrictions began to ease, adding that Surrey Fire and Rescue Services’ joint initiative which began two years ago in which residents could walk in to designated fire stations to report hate crimes and he noted that he would follow up on the outcomes of that initiative which could be extended to Borough and District Councils which he worked closely with.

5.    The Vice-Chairman commented that it was important that the Stop Hate Line was well publicised to encourage more people to come forward particularly for those reluctant to go to the police to report hate crime incidents. She welcomed any ideas for the PCC to promote the service.

-       In response, the PCC thanked the Panel member for that suggestion.

6.      The Chairman referred to paragraph 4.8 ‘Police Officers joining Surrey Police from 01/01/2020 to 31/12/2020 (includes probationers and transferees)’ which listed the headcount and percentage for White and BAME officers, querying the inclusion of the ‘Not Stated’ and ‘Not Recorded’ categories which if added to the BAME category, the headcount would be tripled which would mean that Surrey Police would be doing exceptionally well in terms of BAME recruitment.  

-       In response, the PCC noted that it would be good if there was 100% recording for White and BAME recruits but stressed that the reporting was voluntary. He noted the drive to increase reporting by Surrey Police as two years ago the National Black Police Association highlighted that Surrey's record was poor. Out of the total numbers, the headcount for the ‘Not Stated’ and ‘Not Recorded’ categories was not a matter for concern.

RESOLVED:

The Panel noted the report.

Actions/further information to be provided:

R8/21 - The PCC will look into the results of Surrey Fire and Rescue Services’ joint initiative in which residents could walk into designated fire stations to report hate crimes and look at extending that initiative to Borough and District Councils who he worked closely with.