Hate crimes on the rise in North East Lincolnshire as more victims are coming forward
REPORTED incidents of hate crime in North East Lincolnshire are expected to increase this year.
But the figures are being viewed as a positive by police and council bosses who say it is a sign that more victims are being encouraged to come forward.
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Spencer Hunt: Figures are nothing to be concerned about.
A hate crime is defined as a criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, as being motivated by prejudice or hate on the grounds of race, colour, belief, sexual orientation or disability.
The number of reported hate crimes in the borough has remained fairly constant since April 2010, with 283 incidents in 2010-11 and 288 in 2011-12.
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However, an increase to 312 is projected for 2012-13, after 104 incidents were reported in the first four months of the financial year.
But Spencer Hunt, the council's safer and stronger communities manager, said the figures were nothing to be concerned about.
Addressing the safer and stronger communities scrutiny panel, he said: "We are not looking at this as a negative. We specifically said this wasn't about a reduction target, it was about trying to encourage people to come forward and report at the earliest opportunity, and it's then that we can put the support in."
Mr Hunt added that since the introduction of a dedicated hate crime investigation officer, Humberside Police was now detecting more hate crimes than in previous years.
As of August 12 this year, the detection rate for racially and religiously aggravated crimes was 40 per cent, which compares favourably with the figures for violent crime (39 per cent) and overall crime (29 per cent).
He said: "It shows there's an emphasis within the police in trying to detect these kinds of crime. It's not an easy type of crime to prove and detect."
Becky Freeman, chairwoman of the Safer and Stronger Communities Hate Crime Action Group, told the panel about various projects being undertaken to tackle hate crime and encourage victims to come forward.
These included workshops in primary schools, advice leaflets for takeaway staff and a forthcoming film competition, as reported below.
Councillor Steve Beasant (Lib Dem, East Marsh) said: "I'm quite pleased and reassured by the work that's being done. I feel quite comforted seeing these figures."
Councillor Iain Colquhoun (Con, Waltham) said: "Although there's a problem in North East Lincolnshire it's not a unique problem to us and it's not a particularly severe problem overall, but to those people affected it's very important."
Praising the work of the Hate Crime Action Group, he added: "If you carry on doing the work that you are doing I would have thought it will do an awful lot to mitigate these sort of crimes."
Comments
by nastyjonny
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 9:24PM
“So, as of 12th August this year the detection rate for crime is 108%. Well done to the police! 8% in hand already. Hate crime, hate statistics like this more.”
by Leveret2
Friday, October 12 2012, 6:55AM
“lol: I know, Art; it's a big step up from 10 to 11, isn't it ? Seriously though, before we had all this "concern", people would assimilate quite cheerfully, wouldn't they, especially in Gy ? Generally they would fit in well, and wouldn't be "hated" in the slightest. So despite it all, I still think locally there's some merit in not being unduly concerned (you have to deal with the individual case as & when it arises, anyway).
In other words: the percentage seems high, but the numbers themselves might still seem small enough to be manageable as individual cases. I guess that's what they have to plan for, if they can.”
by ImmArthur
Thursday, October 11 2012, 8:02PM
“Only in NELC could a forecast of a 10% rise in hate crime be ''... nothing to be concerned about ...''.
Arthur, Immingham”
by Leveret2
Thursday, October 11 2012, 4:44PM
“Nice question, william ... but as it's an Act of Parliament it can't be a crime to adhere to it, can it (a crime not to, I suppose) - or can it ? Maybe somebody will test it in Strasbourg, or wherever such cases are heard ? So many things are outlawed; where they conflict will there have to be an order of precedence ?
The sectarianism question is interesting too, isn't it ? Does the Act of Settlement only exclude Roman Catholics but not others, for instance (eg, if a Catholic converts to being a sun-worshipper does he or she leap-frog other Catholics, or does that infringe their Rights as Europeans) ?”
by williampink
Thursday, October 11 2012, 4:05PM
“As a matter interest, by not allowing roman catholics to become Kings and Queens of Britain, is that not a type of hate crime or is it just state sponsored sectarianism.Confused. dot. com.”
by Mrs_biggles
Thursday, October 11 2012, 8:09AM
“"Spencer Hunt: Figures are nothing to be concerned about.....
However, an increase to 312 is projected for 2012-13, after 104 incidents were reported in the first four months of the financial year."
The time reference made to the "financial year". Is this indicative of the rise of hate crimes towards bankers? With the mess they've made globally it's only to be expected I'd have thought.
Could a contribution to these figures also be caused by a prejudice against people having two surnames?”
by mhealeyhome
Thursday, October 11 2012, 12:30AM
“Will Lincolnshire be taking part in the National Hate Crime Awareness Week 13th - 19th October being organised by the 17-24-30 No to Hate Crime Campaign. The week is being launched with a special Act of Remembrance at St Paul's Cathedral on the 13th October at 6.30pm where a candle of Hope and Remembrance will be lit, to burn in the Cathedral for the duration of the week leading up to the 4th International Day of Hope and Remembrance for those affected by Hate Crime onthe 20th October - marked with a series of solidarity vigils around the UK - including London, Brighton, Reading, Ipswich, Milton-Keynes, Norwich, North Norfolk and Plymouth. More details are available on Facebook - search the 17-24-30 No To Hate Crime Campaign.”