RACIST SCOTLAND : Hate crime figures show 8% reduction in 5 years, 4,900 incidents reported last year, Asians still subject of most ‘racist crime’

ONE area of statistics the Crown Office have managed to save from the shredders (unlike the statistics on sectarian crime) is that of incidents reported of a racist nature, which reveal today a reduction for the fourth consecutive year with 4,907 incidents recorded in 2010-11.

The Scottish Government Press Release :

Racist incidents statistics published

12/06/2012

Minister for Community Safety Roseanna Cunningham today cautiously welcomed figures showing a decrease in racist incidents recorded by the police in Scotland in 2010-11.

Ms Cunningham said that there are still far too many hate crimes taking place across the country and warned against complacency in light of more up-to-date Crown Office prosecution statistics published last month. These showed an increase in the number of charges reported to the Procurator Fiscal by the police and other agencies for racism and other forms of hatred in 2011-12.

The ‘Racist Incidents Recorded by the Police in Scotland, 2010-11 statistics published today show:

The number of racist incidents recorded by the police in Scotland has shown a reduction for the fourth consecutive year, with 4,907 incidents recorded in 2010-11, an eight per cent reduction from 2006-07.

Where ethnic origin of the victim was known, 24 per cent of victims were Pakistani, while 46 per cent of victims were of Asian origin (which includes Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese or other Asian).

In 2010-11, 46 per cent of perpetrators of racist incidents were aged 20 or under (where age and gender was known).

The most common times at which racist incidents occurred were on Friday night and Saturday night, with more incidents generally occurring between the hours of 18:00 to midnight.

The most common locations for an incident in 2010-11 were the street (33 per cent), a dwelling house (19 per cent) and in a shop (17 per cent). Other locations included a restaurant / takeaway (eight per cent) and a pub / place of entertainment (six per cent).

In response, Roseanna Cunningham said: “Hatred of any kind has no place in modern Scotland and we need to do everything we can to stop it wherever and whenever it occurs, whilst tackling the root causes. Along with tough enforcement through record numbers of police officers on our streets, community engagement and education is driving home the message that there is no place for racism of any kind in Scotland.While these figures show a decrease in incidents in 2010-11, we cannot be complacent, particularly as we saw new prosecution figures being published last month which show an increase in racist charges this year. That is why we must continue with the work we are doing to tackle racism and hatred in all its forms whilst constantly looking at new ways of getting across the message to the next generation of young Scots. We need to say loud and clear that these outdated attitudes are not acceptable and never will be, whilst educating them about the importance of tolerance and respect.”

Ms Cunningham continued : “The fact that so many of these incidents are happening on Friday and Saturday nights underlines the importance of our efforts to tackle the booze culture which is damaging our communities.The Scottish Government will not tolerate racist behaviour of any kind, whether on the street, in a pub or club, in our workplaces or at a football match and we back our police and prosecutors in punishing offenders for their shameful behaviour.Scotland has an outstanding reputation as a welcoming and tolerant nation and we cannot let a minority of Scots tarnish our image. We want Scotland to be a country where all our citizens can live free from fear and discrimination."

Statistical news release can be accessed at: Racist Incidents Recorded by the Police in Scotland, 2010-11

Related information:

The Scottish Government are committed to promoting equality across Scotland and working with others to do so. To help achieve that aim, the Scottish Government are providing significant funding to core organisations to combat bigotry and hatred of all kinds with nearly £15 million being provided during 2012-15 to allow organisations to take forward specific projects and initiatives to address the issues and support work that will make our communities safer and stronger.

This includes funding of £272,000 announced last week by the Minister for Community Safety to organisations such as Nil by Mouth, Show Bigotry the Red Card, Sense over Sectarianism and the Iona Community to tackle wider forms of hatred.

The Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 and the Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Act 2009 protect the victims of hate crimes by strengthening statutory aggravations for racial and religiously motivated crimes (2010 Act) and creating new statutory aggravations for crimes motivated by sexual orientation, transgender identity and disability (2009 Act). These aggravations also extend to situations where an offender in committing an offence demonstrates malice or ill-will towards a particular group as a whole without the need for an individual victim to be identified.

The legislation ensures that, where it can be proven that an offence has been motivated by malice or ill-will based on the victim’s actual or presumed sexual orientation, transgender identity, disability, race or religion, the court must take that motivation into account when determining sentence. This may lead to a longer custodial sentence or higher fine or a different type of disposal than might have been the case if the offence was not so aggravated.The aim of the legislation is to ensure that when the prejudicial context of a crime has been hatred towards a certain group then that context is taken into account when an offender is being sentenced.

Full Statistical Publication

Racist Scotland : Hate crimes still high and only 38% ever reported to Police

With at least 18 hate crimes a day, and only 38% of racist attacks in Scotland actually reported to the Police, there doesn’t seem much room for consolation in the Scottish Government’s claim they are winning the battle … (yes, admitted, we need some improvements on attitudes – Ed)

The Scotsman reports :

Scots 'well on way' to winning racism battle – but still 18 hate crimes a day

Published Date: 01 April 2009
By Michael Howie
Home Affairs Correspondent

CAMPAIGNERS yesterday claimed Scotland was "well advanced" in the fight against racism as new figures showed the number of racist incidents recorded by police had fallen for the first time in four years.

But with 5,243 racist incidents recorded in 2008 – that is only marginally lower than the previous year's 5,321 – Kenny MacAskill, the justice secretary, said efforts to tackle the scourge had to be stepped up.

The figures published by the Scottish Government yesterday showed a slight rise in the number of racist crimes, from 6,653 to 6,672 – or 18 a day.

Officials said 95 per cent of the incidents involved one or more crimes being recorded.

About half the victims were of Asian origin, mostly Pakistani.

About 95 per cent of the perpetrators were white, where the information was known.

Racist incidents are defined as those "perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person". After police inquiries into such an incident, it may be deemed that a racist crime – or crimes – took place.

The head of one of Scotland's biggest minority ethnic support groups welcomed the figures but criticised the lack of information about how many racist crimes ended in conviction.

Rami Ousta, chief executive of Bemis (Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure in Scotland), said: "We can confirm and share with various ethnic minority groups (the view] that the race equality situation and the whole civic context of ethnic minorities in Scotland is well advanced compared to other countries.

"Some ethnic minorities do not like to hear this, but it is a fact and we have to seek to support and develop rather than attack."

He added: "As for the police figures ... we would welcome some statistics that can reveal the outcome of how the police have been dealing with these crimes."

Mr MacAskill said the reduction came at a time when overall crime was at a 25-year low.

"Although any decrease is to be welcomed, this shows that we need to step up the work going on to transform attitudes and change behaviour," said the minister. "We need to be ever vigilant and ensure that all our communities are protected."

He said the Criminal Justice and Licensing Bill would require courts to record how racial or religious aggravation had affected any sentence. "We cannot be complacent and we must continue with the work we are doing to tackle racism in all its forms. The Scottish Government will not tolerate racist behaviour of any kind."

Labour welcomed the drop in incidents but highlighted a "huge" rise in attacks on white immigrants. While incidents involving "white British" victims had gone up marginally, those involving "other white" victims had tripled from 124 to 476, it said.

Labour's justice spokesman, Richard Baker, said: "Attacks against 'other-white' victims have tripled in the last two years and this is of very deep concern."

Tories said the overall figures meant a racist crime was committed in Scotland every 79 minutes and urged the government to mount "the strongest possible assault" on racism.

Bill Aitken, the Tory justice spokesman, said: "It is sad proof of people out there who will not grow up and leave past attitudes behind."

Liberal Democrat spokesman Robert Brown said a recent survey found only 38 per cent of racist incidents were reported to police. "Although the overall number of racist incidents recorded by the police has dropped, this year the scale of the problem is almost certainly much greater than suggested by official figures," he said.

Here’s the Scottish Government’s Press Release :

Justice Secretary comments on racism statistics

31/03/2009

New figures published today by the Scottish Government show that there was a one per cent decrease last year in the number of racist incidents reported to the police in Scotland.

Commenting on the figures, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said:

"Overall crime in Scotland is at a 25 year low. These latest figures show a small reduction in the number of racist incidents in Scotland.

"Although any decrease is to be welcomed, this shows that we need to step up the work going on to transform attitudes and change behaviour.

"We need to be ever vigilant and ensure that all our communities are protected. In the year of homecoming we need to remember we are all Jock Tamsons bairns - we're all equal, where ever we went to and wherever we have come from. The law will protect everyone irrespective of class, creed or colour.

"Along with tough enforcement of the law, with record numbers of police officers on our streets, community engagement and education and awareness raising are driving home the message that there is no place for racism of any kind in Scotland.

"Our Criminal Justice and Licensing bill will require the courts for the first time to record how racial or religious aggravation has affected any sentence. This will help give us a clearer picture of the number of crimes that have a racist element.

"We cannot be complacent and we must continue with the work we are doing to tackle racism in all its forms.

"The Scottish Government will not tolerate racist behaviour of any kind, whether on the street, at or around a football match or in a pub.

"Our migrant communities are as much part of the threads of Scotland's tartan as the rest of us. They contribute so much to this nation and we want to send out a message that we value them.

"We want Scotland to be a country where all our citizens can live free from fear and discrimination."

English Solicitors Regulation Authority denies racism accusation

Racist or not racist ? The English Solicitors Regulation Authority seems to be in a bit of a mess after being accused by a senior Police Chief of being 'institutionally racist.

The Times reports :

Solicitors Regulation Authority: we are not institutionally racist

The chief executive of the SRA says it is determined to understand why certain groups figure more highly in some areas of regulation

During the past week we have found ourselves in the firing line. Media reports have suggested that a majority of those we investigate are black or ethnic minority solicitors and we are in denial about the possibility that we are institutionally racist.

Neither of these allegations is true but there are complex and serious issues to do with regulation and race that the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) are tackling.

It was our concern that more black and ethnic minority solicitors were figuring in our work that led us to examine the facts in more detail. Last year we published this initial analysis. Although the research found no evidence of deliberate discrimination, it did confirm the concern.

In some, but not all cases, solicitors from black and Asian groups were figuring more highly than expected in some areas of regulation. This disproportion was evident when we looked at the figures for interventions (when we have to close down a firm usually because of suspected dishonesty) and also the figures for the number of serious cases we sent to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, which has the ultimate power to strike off solicitors.

This analysis concluded that there was no single reason for this over-representation, but indicated that a range of possible factors may explain the situation, including the fact that black and ethnic minority solicitors are more likely to work on their own or in small firms in deprived areas where the financial challenges are more acute.

As part of our programme to overhaul the procedures that we have inherited from the old Law Society regulatory directorates, we have reviewed how we take decisions. We are making sure that they are consistent, transparent and made according to published criteria so that they can be audited. This is so our decisions can be seen as fair and made without bias.

It has never been the case that we have targeted solicitors for regulatory action based on any racial grouping. Much of our work concerns information and intelligence that comes from outside bodies. For example, banks and building societies tip us off if they suspect financial irregularities. We have now put in place systems so that this intelligence can be analysed objectively, so that we can check that we are responding in a consistent and fair way.

We also now undertake an impact analysis of our new policies so that we can ensure that equality and diversity are taken into account from the start.

But as well as looking at our internal processes, we need to work with ethnic minority solicitors to get a better understanding of why certain groups figure more highly. The background reasons for some of this disproportion look complex and some even may be beyond our control as a regulator — we are undertaking further analysis on this issue. Working together will prove the best solutions to what we should not be ashamed to acknowledge is a difficult and complex issue.

As a regulator we cannot turn a blind eye to evidence that the public are at risk; nor can we ignore our duty to behave fairly to those we regulate, and to help them to meet the standards we set. The opening words of our strategy are “In all our work we will promote equality and diversity”. I am determined that we will live up to that.