By Philippa Anamaoh
Home Secretary Savid Javid has updated legislation reviews to tackle hate crime and support communities as well as victims of hate crime incidents. The news is most welcome, and The Eye Of Media.Com has
As the government seeks to unify the country through the shared values of honouring Hate Crime Awareness Week, an update made to the original announcements has been made.
The plan’s new measures include a wide-ranging Law Commission review into hate crime, which explores how to make current legislation more effective . The initiative also seeks to considers whether there should be additional protected characteristics, e.g. misogyny against women. Later this Autumn the government will launch a nationwide public awareness campaign designed to educate communities on the specifics and definitions of hate crime.
PLACES OF WORSHIP
The Home Office also says it will extend the Places of Worship Scheme for up to 4 years, which will support more religious institutions vulnerable to hate attacks. This will be achieved by offering call handlers specialist training on how to support hate crime victims. It said that funding of over £1.5 million will be provided for the revamping the True Vision reporting website.
Impressively, the Home Office says further donations will be given to groups which support young people and schools to challenge racial and religious prejudice. Examples include the Anne Frank Trust, Kick it Out and Show Racism the Red Card.
The modified elements have been designed to address specific concerns across all the 5 monitored strands of hate crime, which include race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity and disability.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid said:
“Hate crime goes directly against the long-standing British values of unity, tolerance and mutual respect – and I am committed to stamping this sickening behaviour out.”
“Our refreshed action plan sets out how we will tackle the root causes of prejudice and racism, support hate crime victims and ensure offenders face the full force of the law.” The Eye Of Media.Com ha sin the last year highlighted cases of blatant racism that has gone unnoticed before our intervention. Millwall supporter, Roy Larner, was prosecuted after The Eye Of Media called for his prosecution following his brazen racism against a photographer who was filming him. Although the incidence was broadcasted on news channels, nobody took the step of lodging an official complaint against him.
He was given a light sentence of 26 weeks, but The Eye Of Media.Com referred his case back to the Ministry of Justice for his case to be reviewed, and it was. His sentence wasn’t changed much and we pointed out the unfairness of the judgement. Other cases exist which this publication is still looking at as a team.
It is great news to hear that the government is devoted in encouraging Britain’s youth to not only engage in positive discussion but also to have the tools and resources to identify and report hate crime. This Conservative government is definitely doing a few things right, although this statement is not designed to be an endorsement of the government as a whole, but rather an acknowledgement of notable progression in many aspects of its policies.
The Ministry of education for example has made several applaudable steps in improving primary and secondary education in Britain. The Eye Of Media.Com as a team have been impressed with the infusion of cash the government has put into education in the last year, and the academic development of primary school pupils . Educating pupils about hate crime so that they understand the seriousness of misogyny, racism, and religious hatred, well help youngsters develop in a more mature way than the generations before them.
Communities Secretary, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP who published the refreshed plan also shares the nations views. This morning he commented this morning on vulgarity of the hate crime issue,
“It is completely unacceptable that anyone should live in fear of intimidation and violence because of their beliefs or the colour of their skin. We must challenge prejudice and intolerance, whenever and wherever it appears in our society. I am pleased to announce further funding of over £1.5 million for projects that challenge the attitudes that underpin racially and religiously motivated crime.”
This refreshed review is inarguably needed, since in the past few years there have been an increasing number of hate crime reports. Minister for Faith, Lord Bourne confirmed,
“Britain is a proudly tolerant nation, where everyone has the right to live according to their beliefs. Despite this, in recent years we have seen increased reports of religiously motivated hate crime, intolerance and prejudice”
“The publication of today’s updated plan reaffirms this government’s belief that there can never be an excuse for hatred towards anyone. Wherever we find it, we will oppose it and challenge it.”this problem. Grants have been awarded to 9 churches, 22 mosques, 2 Hindu temples and 12 Sikh gurdwaras. Since the scheme launched in 2016, 89 grants worth over £760,000 have been allocated to places of worship across England and Wales. Through the scheme 45 places of worship have been awarded nearly £800,000 in the latest round of funding.
Further new commitments from across government and partner organisations in the refresh include updated resource packs for schools– to help teachers engage and equip pupils on hate crime issues. The government are also poised to extend their engagement with disabled people. It is determined to better understand the nature of those crimes and their impact.
POLICE TRAINING
Police training will also be enhanced in this summer’s LGBT Action Plan – including measures to examine the provision of victims services and enhance police training.The Office for Students will provide over £480,000 of funding for 11 new projects to tackle religion-based hate crime and harassment. Online abuse will also be tackled as part of the student safeguarding scheme. The government will be supporting projects that encourage reporting, such as True Vision and Stop Hate UK.
DISCUSSION
It is great news to hear that the government is devoted in encouraging Britain’s youth to not only engage in positive discussion, but also to have the tools and resources to identify and report hate crime. Within the context of the now long-standing #metoo movement and other public and politic reports of hate crime in regards to sex relations, this is all excellent news. Now would be the best time to invest in educating young people and schools about consent, mysogomy and sexism amongst their peers and communities.
Young people also need to be educated on the the issues of racism and the problem it poses to society, as well as the reasons that make racism and mysogyny such an ugly and ignorant offence.