Everyone’s duty to curb hate offences

Incidents of hate crime involving Oldham Council staff, councillors, clients and visitors in council buildings can be recorded after the authority set up its first reporting system.

The new policy provides a formal procedure and follows the system set up in Oldham’s schools after the riots and disturbances of 2001.

The hate-crime reporting and recording system is now being set up across all council departments.

Hate crime is defined as an incident causing more than simple offence or hostility, aimed at people’s race or colour, nationality or religion, age, gender, sexuality or disability.

And Councillor Rod Blyth, Cabinet member for People and Communities, says he hopes council staff, and the public and councillors, will welcome the new system.

He said: “I think it’s everyone’s duty to do this, and it’s time we had a policy.

“We don’t really know how widespread this is, and what happens to council staff in every-day life.

“We can’t force people to use the system, but we are giving them the opportunity and hope they will use it. Some of our staff are out and about and are sometimes the subject of race or hate-type abuse.

“Now we can find out if there is a problem and find out the scale.

“If we are aware that things are building up we can nip it in the bud, rather than wait for it to escalate.”

The policy says hate incidents can fall into many categories, but could involve physical assault, damage to property, graffiti, neighbour disputes and arson, threats of attack, offensive letters, abusive phone calls, intimidation by groups, verbal abuse, offensive leaflets, gestures or comments, rubbish dumping and bullying.

Councillors and trades unions are also being urged to use the system.