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Using the Equality Duties to address Hate Crime October 2011. Celia Hart Equality Manager 01978 292808. Co-dependent. Equality & Human Rights. Community Cohesion. Hate Crime in Wrexham. Community Cohesion Group & team lead Linked to Community Cohesion Groups
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Using the Equality Duties to address Hate CrimeOctober 2011 Celia Hart Equality Manager 01978 292808
Co-dependent Equality & Human Rights Community Cohesion
Hate Crime in Wrexham • Community Cohesion Group & team lead • Linked to Community Cohesion Groups • Third Party Reporting Centres across Borough • Manage reports & referrals • Community tension monitoring • Community connections • Myth busters / DVD’s • Support growth of network of local groups • Partnership approach
The Law • Human Rights Act 1998 • Right to life • Freedom from discrimination • Freedom from torture, inhumane and degrading treatment • Right to liberty, security, fair trial • Freedom of thought, belief and religion, and expression • Respect for private, family life, home • Right to peaceful enjoyment of your property • Equality Act 2010 • Outlaws discrimination in a wide range of settings and circumstances • Public sector duties
Equality Act - General Duty “…eliminate conduct which the Act prohibits” “…advance equality of opportunity…” “…foster good relations… “
Specific Duties for Wales Regulation: collect info about compliance with the duties • Hate crime reports monitoring statistics from start to outcome • Domestic abuse monitoring – all protected characteristics • Community tension monitoring • Intelligence “finger on the pulse” • World / national / regional / local • Police • Community contacts etc • Planning representations • complaints
Specific Duties for Wales Regulation: set equality objectives / engagement • Present information about different types of hate crime • Ask specific questions – of public concern? • Risks different across protected characteristics? • Lack of evidence? Flag it / discuss it anyway • Fear of hate crime – impact on social inclusion? • Local / regional / Wales issue
Specific Duties for Wales • Regulation: assess the likely impact of decisions and policies • EASI system questionnaires for each protected characteristic “How will this activity help to foster good relations between persons who possess this protected characteristic and those who do not?” • Understanding Impact Guidance: “this is particularly important when an activity may be perceived as favouring one group more than any other”
Specific Duties for Wales Regulation: publish / monitor action plan • Strategic Equality Plan integral part of Council Plan • Cross referenced to Community Cohesion / Community Safety Strategies etc • Co-ordinate reports to Scrutiny Committees • Monitoring / reviewing role
Specific Duties for Wales Regulation: engagement provisions • Developing objectives • Regional N. Wales event 20 September • Wrexham public event – 22 November • Staff events 10/15 November • Surveys (with equality monitoring and “What’s it got to do with you?” • EIAs – in developing EASI system and guidance notes, recording engagement across protected groups and outcome
Specific Duties for Wales Regulation: Promote knowledge and understanding of the general duty – use performance assessment to identify needs • Training needs analysis – appraisal “checklist” • Training Plan • Munch and learn sessions (PCs) • Managers programme • Briefing sessions • Resources Valuing Diversity series / myth busters, DVDs
Making sense of it all … • WCBC - Equality Improvement Award • WCBC – Equality Improvement Group • Strategic Equality Plan - eventually • EIA tool • Co-ordinate information / messages from different sources • Co-ordinate, monitor engagement
Making it happen • Scrutiny Committee – refuse to accept reports without EIA evidence • Executive Board / Scrutiny report formats and guidance and “sign-off report checklist” • Departmental Equality Co-ordinators “champions” • Staff induction – law, local diversity, myth busting • Managers / Elected Member training - roles and responsibilities • Using familiar systems and arrangements for monitoring / reporting progress • Scrutiny - confirmation EIA completed & summary • Report sign-off sheet – Scrutiny and Executive Board • Guidance on report template – Scrutiny and Executive Board • Corporate Equality Improvement Group • Advisory role to departments and schools
Equality Improvement Award • Internal award scheme – based on EIF • Focus on using existing and familiar tools • Twenty criteria from “equality stock-take 2010” • (Modified EIF self assessment) • Departments can submit evidence and apply for bronze, silver or gold • Wires Community Cohesion “One Wrexham Charter” into internal equality activities / Personal equality objectives