Issue - meetings

The Council considered an agenda motion from Councillor Robin Moss, seconded by Councillor Charles Gerrish which was then

RESOLVED unanimously that

This Council:

1.  Notes:

a.  The Association of Chief Police Officers and the CPS have agreed a common definition of hate crime: "Any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person's race or perceived race; religion or perceived religion; sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation; disability or perceived disability and any crime motivated by hostility or prejudice against a person who is transgender or perceived to be transgender".

b.  that figures show a 20% rise in all forms of hate crime reported to the police in the first quarter of this year but that hate crime is also believed to be significantly under-reported; 

c.  that under new guidance, the Crown Prosecution Service will treat online hate crimes as seriously as offences committed face to face;

d.  the excellent work that SARI undertakes in schools in B&NES to raise awareness of these crimes; and

e.  the work done by the B&NES Hate Crime and Community Cohesion Partnership (BHCCCP).

2.  Agrees that it has a role as a community leader to take a lead in challenging hate crime in whatever form it may take and that division and intolerance have no place in society.

3.  Urges everybody, including elected members, to report hate crime to the police if they experience or witness it.

4.  Resolves to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism as recommended by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.  This definition states that Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities. 

5.  Asks the Leader of Council to:

a.  Invite the Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset to provide an update on the measures being taken to tackle hate crime, including overcoming possible barriers to reporting; and

b.  Work with local organisations to raise awareness of hate crime and how to report it, noting that Oxford City Council have recently worked in partnership with the police and other organisations to implement a poster campaign encouraging people to report these crimes.

[Notes:

1.  During debate, Councillor Tim Warren moved a motion, duly seconded, that in accordance with Council rule 4A, 48, the Council meeting continue until 10:20pm so that it could conclude its business.  This was agreed by a majority.]