Dismore wins hate crime debate
Andrew Dismore, Labour London Assembly member for Camden and Barnet secured the support of the Assembly for his motion to restore the police Hate Crime Forum in the Assembly plenary session.
After the debate Mr Dismore said:
“ The Hate Crime Forum disappeared when the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime was set up at the start of the year, taking over political responsibility for the police.
Set up as a consequence of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, the Forum was expanded to cover all forms of hate crime, which is regrettably on the increase in London. The Forum provided a mechanism for wider society to become actively involved with the police and the Boroughs in fighting against this awful crime. The Forum included not just the voluntary sector, but also for example the Probation Service and judiciary, as well as representing the various minorities and groups at risk of victimisation.
It played an important role in inspecting developments at the local level, and even referred back plans in two boroughs as inadequate.
The Mayor has shown no sign of giving this issue the priority it deserves, suggesting that over the next few months the Deputy Mayor for Policing would consider it. We have already waited for 6 months for a replacement, and with hate crime growing, , it is all the more important that we do not lose sight of the previously successful Forum and re-establish it, or a very similar body, as soon as possible.
It was regrettable that Conservative members of the Assembly promoting a wrecking amendment, but when this was defeated I am pleased they saw sense and supported my proposal.
