Safer Bristol consults on plans to tackle hate crime

The Safer Bristol Partnership is consulting on draft plans on commissioning services to prevent and respond to hate crimes in Bristol from 2013 to 2016. 
 
The draft plan set out commissioning plans for:

•  Providing support to victims of hate crime on the grounds of disability and sexual orientation as well as race and faith, preferably through a single point of access
• Prevention of hate crime by working, particularly  with young people, to raise awareness of hate crime and the impacts of hate crime

The plan lays out the intended strategic outcomes, an agreed approach and available investment for community-based hate crime support in Bristol.
 
The plan has been developed by a commissioning group following work with existing providers and service users to assess the need for services.  The overall budget, met by Bristol City Council and Safer Bristol, will be £215,600 per year for three years. 
 
A hate crime involves threats, harassment, or physical harm and is motivated by prejudice against someone’s race, disability, race, religion, gender-identity or sexual orientation.
 
In Bristol there were 2500 hate crimes/incidents reported between 01/04/2010-31/03/2011.
 
Of these, 2000 were race hate crimes, 33 faith hate crimes/incidents, 350 were homophobic hate crimes/incidents and 102 were disablist hate crimes/incidents. These figures are known to be under-reported because victims are either fearful of further abuse if they come forward or believe that the authorities won’t take them seriously.
 
“People who feel they are being victimised because of their race or sexual orientation or because they are disabled can suffer long term distress but feel helpless to do anything about it. We want to ensure that we commission services that are effective and cost effective and give people the confidence to come forward for help” said Cllr Gary Hopkins, the Cabinet Member for Community Safety and a member of the Safer Bristol Board..
 
“We want to get the views of service users, local communities and  current and potential service providers before finalising the plans and commissioning services”, said Peter Anderson, Safer Bristol Crime and Substance Misuse Service Manager who chairs the Hate Crime Joint Commissioning Group.
 
The consultation closes on September 21.  Anyone wishing to comment can go online to the Bristol City Council ‘Consultation Finder’ website at