Metropolitan Police launch race forum

The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) has launched a London-wide Race Hate Crimes Forum today to improve services to victims of race hate crimes and bring about a reduction in racially motivated crimes in the capital.

The MPA has brought together statutory, voluntary and criminal justice organisations that have a key role in this field and representatives from over 30 organisations have been involved in developing the forum's terms of operation.

In London, statistics indicate that 0.67% of crimes are racially motivated and a total of racial incidents recorded in the capital for the year to February this year was 998 – down from 1124 last year.

Peter Herbert, chair of the Race Hate Crime Forum, said: "The establishment of the Race Hate Crime Forum is a landmark event in the capital and the first of its kind in Europe. Ten years after the murder of Stephen Lawrence, the forum will help establish a uniform approach across the Criminal Justice system, statutory agencies and voluntary agencies when dealing with race hate crimes.

"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."

Victim Support London's Chief Executive, Anne Coughlan said: "This forum reflects a commitment, from both statutory and voluntary agencies, to work together to provide a coherent service where black and minority ethnic victims of crime are placed at the heart of the system. It is vital that statutory and voluntary agencies offer this joined up approach to make further steps toward the recommendations of the Macpherson Report."

The report – which concluded that there was institutional racism in the Met – recommended that the Home Office, police services, local government and other agencies create a comprehensive system for reporting and recording all racial incidents and crimes.

In July 2001 the London Race Hate Crimes Working Group was set up to set out policies and influencing practices on race and other hate crimes in London.

The forum launched today has evolved from the significant work already developed by the working group and will co-ordinate the key agencies.

(GMcG)