Agenda item

To consider the following motion, submitted by Mr Oxlade, which was referred to the Cabinet Member for Fire & Rescue and Communities at the meeting of the County Council on 18 October 2019.

‘This Council notes that since 2016 there has been a significant increase in the number of referrals made to the hate incident support service (HISS) in West Sussex, with the number of reports of hate incidents/crimes motivated by both sexual orientation and directed at those with a disability having doubled. This Council’s ambition is for the residents of West Sussex to feel safe in their neighbourhoods, that people from different backgrounds get on well together, benefit from a sense of shared belonging and take up opportunities to participate in community life. This Council condemns homophobia, transphobia, racism, xenophobia and hate crimes unequivocally and pledges to tackle hate crime to ensure such behaviour does not become acceptable and to continue to support those affected by hate crime.

This Council calls on the Cabinet Member for Fire and Rescue and Communities to:

(1)     Ensure that the Hate Incident Support Service is protected from any future budget cuts to ensure this unique and highly valued service can be maintained at its current level;

(2)     Explore cost-effective ways of increasing the promotion of hate crime reporting using wider-reaching advertising opportunities (at roundabouts, on vehicles and local public transport); and

(3)     Ensure a regular report on hate crime is provided to the Chairman of the Environment, Communities and Fire Select Committee and the Business Planning Group for monitoring (and further scrutiny if required).’

and the report of the Cabinet Member for Fire & Rescue and Communities.

84.1     At the County Council meeting on 18 October 2019 the following motion had been moved by Mr Oxlade, seconded by Mr Jones, and referred to the Cabinet Member for Fire & Rescue and Communities for consideration. A report by the Cabinet Member was included with the agenda (pages 83 and 84).

‘This Council notes that since 2016 there has been a significant increase in the number of referrals made to the hate incident support service (HISS) in West Sussex, with the number of reports of hate incidents/crimes motivated by both sexual orientation and directed at those with a disability having doubled. This Council’s ambition is for the residents of West Sussex to feel safe in their neighbourhoods, that people from different backgrounds get on well together, benefit from a sense of shared belonging and take up opportunities to participate in community life. This Council condemns homophobia, transphobia, racism, xenophobia and hate crimes unequivocally and pledges to tackle hate crime to ensure such behaviour does not become acceptable and to continue to support those affected by hate crime.

This Council calls on the Cabinet Member for Fire and Rescue and Communities to:

(1)     Ensure that the Hate Incident Support Service is protected from any future budget cuts to ensure this unique and highly valued service can be maintained at its current level;

(2)     Explore cost-effective ways of increasing the promotion of hate crime reporting using wider-reaching advertising opportunities (at roundabouts, on vehicles and local public transport); and

(3)     Ensure a regular report on hate crime is provided to the Chairman of the Environment, Communities and Fire Select Committee and the Business Planning Group for monitoring (and further scrutiny if required).’

84.2     An amendment was moved by Ms Goldsmith and seconded by Mr Simmons.

‘This Council notes that since 2016 there has been a significant increase in the number of referrals made to the hate incident support service (HISS) in West Sussex, with the number of reports of hate incidents/crimes motivated by both sexual orientation and directed at those with a disability having doubled. This Council’s ambition is for the residents of West Sussex to feel safe in their neighbourhoods, that people from different backgrounds get on well together, benefit from a sense of shared belonging and take up opportunities to participate in community life. This Council condemns homophobia, transphobia, racism, xenophobia and hate crimes unequivocally and pledges to tackle hate crime to ensure such behaviour does not become acceptable and to continue to support those affected by hate crime.

This Council calls on the Cabinet Member for Fire and Rescue and Communities to:

(1)     Ensure that the Hate Incident Support Service is prioritised for funding within the Communities budget  protected from any future budget cuts to ensure this unique and highly valued service can be maintained at its current level;

(2)     Explore cost-effective ways of increasing the promotion of hate crime reporting using wider-reaching advertising opportunities such as; (at roundabouts, on vehicles and local public transport); and

(3)     Ensure a regular report on the level of and response to hate crime is available for provided to the Chairman of the Environment, Communities and Fire Select Committee and the Business Planning Group for monitoring (and further scrutiny if required).’

84.3     The amendment was carried.

84.4     The amended motion, as set out below, was carried.

‘This Council notes that since 2016 there has been a significant increase in the number of referrals made to the hate incident support service (HISS) in West Sussex, with the number of reports of hate incidents/crimes motivated by both sexual orientation and directed at those with a disability having doubled. This Council’s ambition is for the residents of West Sussex to feel safe in their neighbourhoods, that people from different backgrounds get on well together, benefit from a sense of shared belonging and take up opportunities to participate in community life. This Council condemns homophobia, transphobia, racism, xenophobia and hate crimes unequivocally and pledges to tackle hate crime to ensure such behaviour does not become acceptable and to continue to support those affected by hate crime.

This Council calls on the Cabinet Member for Fire and Rescue and Communities to:

(1)     Ensure that the Hate Incident Support Service is prioritised for funding within the Communities budget to ensure this unique and highly valued service can be maintained at its current level;

(2)     Explore cost-effective ways of increasing the promotion of hate crime reporting using wider-reaching advertising opportunities such as; at roundabouts, on vehicles and local public transport; and

(3)     Ensure a regular report on the level of and response tohate crime is available for to the Chairman of the Environment, Communities and Fire Select Committee and the Business Planning Group for monitoring (and further scrutiny if required).’