An examination into the how community leaders can effectively tackle

racial harassment and violence.

Written By Monju Haque

In my essay I will examine racial harassment and violence. Specifically
identifying relevant
statistics and reports. I will also consider how
communities have responded and come together to seek justice (and fought
back/responded to racial abuse and harassment).
My hypothesis is that although racial harassment and violence in recent years
has fallen there has been much racial harassment and only a handful of
serious cases are known to the general public. Rarely to cases of injustice get
a fair trial.
My essay will also look into the way in which community leaders and activist
have bought communities together to highlight the cases and bring focus back
onto the level of racial harassment and violence that still exist. How
communities have come together in response to seek answers and justice.
Looking into the difficulties and obstacles and the determination needed to
stay focused.
I feel that without certain community leaders such as those involved the
Stephen Lawrence would case would have not bought about change and
fought for justice as needed.

Although there is no legal definition of racial harassment, there is a working

definition adopted by the Commission for Racial Equality. It is as follows:
"Racial Harassment is violence, which may be verbal or physical and which
includes attacks on property as well as on a person, suffered by individuals or
groups because of their race, colour, nationality or ethnic or national origins,
when the complainant believes that the perpetrator was acting on racial
grounds and/or there is evidence of racism".
Macpherson, 1999 defined that "A racist incident is any incident which is
perceived to be racist by the victim or by
Any other person". (http://www.edenha.org.uk)
Now that racial harassment has been defined its important to look at how big
the problem in fact is. As explained by Quayyum 2012 5the definition of racial
harassment and volence can be blurred as it can be an objective or subjective
test. Quayuum explained that on one end of the spectrum we have physical
violence, the most extreme being murder and race riots, on the other end low
level harassment, such as racial abuse and insulting behaviour; somewhere
in the middle we find graffiti and property damage.
Quayum went on to explain that members of every immgrant or ethnic
community (the other) have endured racial harassment and violence at
some point.
Phillips and Phillips (1988/2000 looked into the cause of the Nottingham and
Notting hill Riots and the Deptford fire. Pilkington (1996) looks at Notting Hill
and incidents in Dudly. Its very important to remember that during the 60s
P***I bashing appeared to have become a national sport in poor white
communities (Quayum 2012)
There have been 89 murders in mainland Britain Since 1991 Institute of Race
Relations (IRR) documenting murders
Explain how community leaders have engaged with the problem
Community leaders such as Doreen Lawrence have fought steady and hard to
ensure that justice has prevailed. Its been a difficult and pain stricken journey
but through her dedication she has been a true inspiration and will continue to
inspire and motivate not only others who have gone through the similar
situation but she continue to fight to make valuable policy changes that will
make positive changes for the future. fight resulted in the Macpherson
report, the incompetence of the police and its intuitionalist racist views
highlighted.
Its not just Community leader but also young people who continuously fought
to expose racial harassment and the unfair way in which ethnic minorities
have been and are continuously treated, The Youth Against Racism in Europe
brings together young people who strongly work together to highlight cases
and fight for equality a cause that they continue to passionately to fight for.
They constantly campaign and update there website and have members all

across the world there biggest fight has been to overcome the problems
facing the BNP and police harassment. They have been involved in proving
the innocence of individuals and focusing on fighting for major miscarriage of
injustice such as that of Oliver Campbell on the 15 th anniversary of his arrest.
They have also highlighted cases where asylum seekers have been kept
unfairly in detention and have faced one horrific experience only to face
another even more horrific experience. Fascism and also the way in which the
community came together in 90s to stop the BNP. Since 1992 the YRE when
it first formed its first international activity was a demonstration against racism
and fascism in Brussels. A number of young people from Tower Hamlets
attend Ed this demonstration and in May 1993 the YRE co-organised an
8.000 strong demonstration of Black and White youth marched to the BNP
headquarters following the death of Stephen Lawrence.
YRE members target Tower Hamlets specifically brick Lane to campaign
against the BNP neo-Nazi paer sale that had been going on for over 20years.
Asian end black people were intimidated and there were increased rates of
racial incitement, tensions and violence. YRE campaigned ongoing to
empower and highlight the threats of the BNP, what they stood for and the
urgency of people coming together to prevent them from rising and the
importance of stopping the racism and the racial hatred that they incited.
The YRE with there dedication and hard work were able to build a mass
movement and through dedication and hard work were finally able to drive the
BNP off the streets of Tower Hamlets. Its not to say that BNP were cause and
behind all racial attacks, racial attacks continued but not reported to be
caused by the BNP or its members. BUT evidence does shoe that where
there is a rise in BNP activities theres is a strong link in raise of racist attacks.
This proves the importance and value of not only community leaders and
activists coming together to fight for equality. Racial attacks never be fully
eradicated as there is no way to control the behaviours and actions of others.
But by working together we can positively campaign to raise awareness. Most
racial behaviour and actions seem to as a result of propaganda,
misinformation and the lack of knowledge and being wrongly manipulated and
brainwashed by the likes of the BNP and EDL. In a nutshell ignorance is to
blame, but by education and working together and getting rid of these myths
we might learn to value other and our differences and live in a more
harmonious world.
YRE were at the forefront of cases such as Stephen Lawrence (1993) and
campaigned to explain to young people
Many young people were oblivious that the BNP was a racist party and that
they believed that white people were a master race. The YRE worked hard to
expose this community and to explain that the BNP were out to stop
individuals democratic rights and would go to any measure to stop this. The
YRE; s goal was to young people from the local community involved. Many
Bengali youth got involved and in turn so read the word in their own local
communities. The YRE were a pinnacle of dedication that inspired the youth
movement and ongoing activities and campaigns were arranged to fight the
fascists.

Another case where YRE were heavily involved was the attack on Quddus Ali
Its amazing the way in which YRE members supported and came together to
be vigil, fight for justice and to ensure youth in tower Hamlets were not unfairly
arrested during their hospital vigil of Qudodos Ali even though evidence
shows that the police did their upmost to provoke the crowds so that they
could unfairly and with excessive force arrest people. Its unfortunate that the
police abuse their power in such a way. The police are institutionally racist
beyond belief. But as /Doreen Lawrence and many other continue their fight
we must all join. They have laid the stepping stones but together we need to
work together to build the path.
Lets not forget that as a result of the racial attacks in Tower Hamlets many
young people during the 90s were afraid to go out always in fear of attack or
abuse. Only some case hit the headlines but majority hidden and forgotten.
During this period the youth of Tower Hamlets felt that their elders were not
doing enough and set up Youth Connection a Bengali youth organisation and
worked in conjunction with YRE and the allies together to overcome the fear
and presence of the BNP in Tower Hamlets. The elders and so called
community leaders of the time on occasion stopped the YRE from speaking at
events. Typically the elders felt they knew it all but they would have been wise
to listen closer to the needs of the young people.
The Isle of Dogs is more racially segregated and after the election of Derek
Beakon in the Millward Ward theres was an increase of racial attacks,
violence, racial incitement and intimidation of anti-racists.
Its quite easy today to be slightly oblivious of the historical change on the Isle
of Dogs its not always been the serene peaceful place as we see it today. We
it to our community leaders old and young that came together to fight for a
cause that has enabled us to mix freely and to be treated in a fairer manner. I
seem hard to imagine but in the 90s the likely hood of getting attacked on the
way home would have been high, very high.
TUC (Trade Unions Congress) also came together to demonstrate and show
solidarity of trade unionist and youth to march against racism and oppose the
BNP.
YRE fought also against funding and cuts and successfully managed to keep
the Alpha Grove community Centre from being closed down. This kept the
BNP out and was a great opportunity in bringing together community groups
across the Isle of Dogs. The YRE also successfully ensured that the BNP
could not actively campaign in public in Tower Hamlets. YRE with young
people organised a community defence. The fight may have been won but the
war is still going on.
The YRE also set up the white whistle campaign, if a BNP came to campaign
people would blow their whistles and every time would come out of their
houses to prevent the BNP from entering estates. Police were often called
and police often left looking shameful as no crime had been committed, still
the police harassed the youth ethnic minorities and it was obvious that they
supported the BNP movement although would not say it out loud. The is
proportionate number of arrests and stop and search were unnecessary and

uncalled for. The excessive force used by the police was horrific and it was
appalling the way in which victims of racial attacks were e treated. The white
whistle campaign was high successful and the BNP soon not entering many
estates and complaining of intimidation.
Its important to remember that the campaign against the BNP in Tower
Hamlets was not easy. There was so much to tackle and the problems faced
ranged from police harassment to media attacks, the constant intimidation
and violence from the BNP, divisions amongst the Bengali youth, gang issues,
opposition and hostile reactions and behaviour from community leaders and
people of authority. YRe was racially mixed and this was vowed with
suspicion. But by being consistent and motivated and putting forward ideas
and pushing for change the BNP was eventually defeated. A large number of
people were arrested and charged during the 90s especially during Tower
Hamlets 9 campaign and the Brick Lane Defence Campaign where the BNP
were chased out of Brick Lane organising support and solidarity was key and
the justice campaign was set up and money raised to pay costs and support
people facing charges.

(Hugo Pierre: Stop the Nazi BNP: Stopping the BNP in Tower Hamlets: YRE
role
in
fighting
BNP
in
Tower
Hamlets
in
the
90s)
(http://www.yre.or.uk/index.html)
What are the remedies that are available?
There are a number of legal remedies available but the question is how
effective are they. Its very well and good that there something in place but if
its actually not doing anything then whats the use. Its about ensuring that
remedies such as these are utilised at every available opportunity. Remedies?
Protection from Harassment Act 1997
Public Order act 1986
Football (offences) Act 1991: chanting racial abuse, throwing missiles
Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, s. 154 & 155
Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (new offences of racially aggravated
harassment and assault; racially aggravated public order offences; and new
sentencing powers for courts)
Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000, s. 153 (extension of
offences covered)
Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, s. 39 (adding religion to racially
aggravated offences).
Criminal Justice Act 2003, s. 145
Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006
Are they effective?
The legal remedies are n place but are the police effectively enforcing this???
Police response, negligence by police and the way courts deal with this.
Accountability.

Virdee (1995) 53-58 : largely pessimistic about legal measures

Sibbit (1997) 81-111: excellent study looks at the perpetrators of racial
harassment and violence
Bowling (1998) 234-284: overview o problems with the law
Burney (2003): looks into how the CPS do not pursue racially aggravated
cases seriously enough
Weller et al (2001): looks at harassment on grounds of religion
Allott (1980): limits of state law in controlling behaviour
What needs to be done to tackle the phenomenon more effectively?
What is the role of community leaders?
Community leaders are in the ideal role to highlight these concerns and to
continue to fight for justice.
Work through the power point and supplied bibliography on the topic on BLE.

Bourne 2002 found that minority ethnic people were being racially harassed
everyday whether it may on the street, playgrounds, classrooms, shops, at
work. Persistent harassment can be intimidating and psychologically
damaging and individuals fearful of going outside to even basic things in fear
of attack. The sad thing is that statistics show that half of these attacks are
carried out by school children or young people and 205 involve neighbours
and half of all victims know their attackers. (Metropolitan Police Statistics;
British Crime Survey, 2000; ESRC Violence Research Programme.
Racial violence not new, race riot 1919, Charles Woton killed in Liverpool.
Jewish refugees to Britain constantly harass beginning of 20 th century. Black
people arriving in 50s-60s (when politicians whipping up racial hatred) had to
protect their communities.
Authorities such as police, courts and judiciary not understanding the severity
of racial violence minorities undergo. Police not taking attacks seriously, not
properly investigated resulting in culprits not being found. Magistrates and
judges too lenient in sentencing. Ethnic minorities using faith in the criminal
justice system as perpetrators of violence went free.
Since the murder of Stephen Lawence in 1993 and the Macpherson report in
1999 into the incompetence and racism shown by the police who were
investigating this racial violent death, attempts have been made to remedy
this situation. A new definition for racial |incident was suggested. A Racist
Incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person. A
national Racial and Violent crimes Task Force was set up to investigate
serious racial, sexual and homophobic attacks. Things such as racist chanting
at football grounds have been made an offence and the Crime and Disorder
Act a number of racially aggravated offences were created. This stated that
for certain crimes such as assault, harassment, wounding if there was a racial
element to the offence then sentences should be increased.

In 2000-2001 police recorded 25100 racially aggravated offences of which

12455 incidents were of racially aggravated common assault and 3176
incidents of racially aggravated wounding in England and Wales. Al types of
racial violence in the UK remains high and the Macpherson report has had an
impact that could be that the police are taking racial violence more seriously
or that more victims are reporting crimes.
1994-8 reported racists incidents in the Metropolitan Police area were around
5000 a year but in 1998/99 the number of reported incidents rose to 11050
which is a phenomeel increase o 89% and in 199/00 the figure has more then
doubled against to 23346 which is an increase of 111% from the year before.
In 2000/01 all the racist incidents recorded by the police in England and
Wales was 53090.
Its still important to bear in mind that probably only a fraction of racial crime is
reported. According to the British crime Survey there wee 280000 racially
motivated incidents in 1999. 98000 (35%) wee against Black, Indian,
Pakistani and Bangladeshi (who comprise of 7% of the population).
Bangladeshis and Pakistanis are at the greatest risk of racial attack at 4.2%
followed by Indians 3.6% and Black People 2.2%. This compares with 0.3%
for white people.
The most serious attacks occur when, like Stephen Lawrence, a victim is
murdered. Although such attacks are far rarer than everyday attacks of
harassment, the figures are scary. Between since 1992 and 2002 over
50people have been killed in racial attacks but only a small few have hit the
headlines and caused public outcry.

Protection from Harassment Act 1997

Legal remedies (older) and problems
Public Oder Act 1988 Commission for Racial Equality (1988): 36-37 for
summary
Home Affairs Committee (1994): 15

Organisations such as S.A.R.I work towards the elimination of racial

discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity and good relations
between people of different racial groups through educating, advocating and
promoting equality and bringing relief and treatment of any physical or mental
or emotional stress suffered by any person as a result of that person or family
member having suffered from racial discrimination.

S.A.R.I defines a racially motivated action as:

A physical, written or psychological attack on an individual or group or their
property, by another person or group for which there is no reasonable
explanation other then their race, culture, religion, ethnic origin, or personal
relationship with an ethnic minority person, where this is the view of the
person receiving the report or the person reporting it.
Its important to remember that a racial incident can be overt, covert, blatant
or subtle (S.A.R.I) the effects of racial harassment can greatly have an impact
on an individuals life and people often experiencing harassment may feel
humiliated and too embarrassed to complain. S.A.R.I works to support victims
and their families. (http://www.sariweb.org.uk)

Fitzgerald and Hale 2009/2010 British Crime Statistics (BCS) from 1988 and
1992 combined found that ethnic minorities more likely then whites to be
victims of crime and that, minority groups are less like to report offences and
are generally less satisfied with the police response.
The BCS statistics also showed that racially motivated incidents are more
likely to be reported to the police by Indian than other types of crime and that
Afro-Caribbeans are less likely to report incidents.
The BCS report also found that ear of crime is higher among the Asian groups
than whites even when allowance s made for other factors.
The BCS provides no evidence of the lager rise in racial incidents between
1988 and 1992 suggested by police figures. But it does show that there is a
lager gap between the number of racial incidents reported to the police and
the number actually reported over that period.
But Fitzgerald and Hale 1992 made it clear that it is important to remember
that figures for racial incidents unreliable as most cases not reported and at
ties not recorded. Different methodologies have been used using local figures
and the evident pattern is that racial incidents are on the rise and that police
need to pay a positive role in tackling this issue with tact and diplomat and
that the police needs to build the trust of the people it serves. Members of the
community need to rest assured that they can report crimes and those they
will be taken seriously. Its disgraceful and shocking that even in this day and
age the institutionalised racism demonstrated by the police has led to many
racial incident/crime and racially motivated deaths to be solved. Even worse
when the culprits have got away or nearly got away to police negligence.
Theres nothing sadder then a racially motivated murder/death that could have
been prevented if the police, courts and judiciary had treated it fairly with the
importance that it deserved.
Looking at all the statistics and research of the last few decades its blatantly
obvious that all the ethnic minority groups covered by the BCS are more likely
then whites to be victims of both household and personal offences (Fitzgeral
&Hale 1996).

Fittzgerald and Hale (1996) also found that ethnic minorities were less
satisfied with police response. Is it the way the cases were dealt with? Not
being taken seriously enough?
Fitzgerald and Hale found that ethnic minority victims of crime were more
likely to see racial ovation in personal offence and not household offence. The
fear of becoming a victim often preventing minorities conducting their daily
business.
Asians more likely then whites to feel unsafe both out alone and in their own
homes.
Fitzgerald and Hale concluded that if categories used are too broad then
experiences of different minorities becomes obscured and that even within
Asian groups the findings vary between Pakistanis and Indians/ they also
found that its difficult to precisely measure racial harassment for a number of
reasons such as the fact that some incidents which involve racial motivation
may not always be apparent to the victim, and the way in which racial
incidents overlap with more general victimisation. Therefore its unrealistic to
categorise incidents as racial and others as not racial. Therefore its not
wise to focus too much on the estimated figures and the amount of racial
incidents as its pretty clear that the figures are probably a lot lower then the
number of racial incidents that is really occurring.
Demographic and socio-economic variations have an impact on why certain
ethnic groups are more likely to victims of crime. (Fitzgeral & Hale 1996). But
why is this the case, why is it that to date still the issue of racial harassment
and violence not been tackled successfully? I mean of course the problem
cannot be eradicated but why is the rate of ethnic victims of crime so
disproportionately high?
Community leaders and activist need to do more to ensure that that laws are
reviewed, that the police and such institutions are held accountable for hen
things go wrong and we all as community members need to know these
statistics and need to take positive steps towards relevant policy changes.
Racial harassment and violence needs to be dealt with an in sensitive manner
and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable. The community its
leaders and members need to come together to get justice and put in place
remedies that will not prevent but reduce the level of racial harassment.
Everyone has the right to live a life without fear of abuse. We should all be
proud of our culture and heritage and should never be fearful of attack.
http://www.psi.org.uk/publications/archivepdfs/Harass/RVH2.pdf

Community and youth organisation as well of community activist and figures

of authority have done much to fight the war of the 900s but this should be a
lesson to what we still need to do to fight the battles of today. Changes have
been made and we have come far the war is still and there still many fights to
win. But with the right leaders and by coming together and becoming united
we can definitely fight for positive change.

In conclusion as my research has shown, a racial harassment and violence is

a real problem in todays society. We as community leaders must do our bit to
fight this evil. The Macpherson report revealed the police was institutionally
racist in 1993, however since then, has there really been any great
improvement? We as future leaders firstly must recognise these problems and
tackle them with a legislative framework. If we want to integrate and make our
communities successful we must do more. Bibliography
Session 6 (28th Jan 2012) Tackling Racial Harassment and Violence and legal
Remedies, Community Leadership Programme 2011-2012, Empowering
future leaders of Tower Hamlets, Prof. W. Menski & Sham Qayyum,
(powerpoint slides from lecture)
CPS drops charges in race murder case
By Amelia Gentleman
The Guardian, Friday 2nd April 1999 03.05 BST
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/1999/apr/02/ameliagentleman
Role of Community Leaders in Preventing and Responding to Racial
Harassment and Violence.
By Anish Lucky Sri Jay in Lifestyle
Tutebox, March 9th 2012
http://www.tutebox.com/10894/life-style/role-of-communit-leaders-inpreventing-and-responding-to-racial-harassment-and-violence
Prisoner killed in race hate attack
By Paul Kelso
The Guardian, Wednesday 25th October 2000 17.02 BST
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk2000/oct/25/race.lawrence
Doreen Lawrence urges new enquiry into police handling of murder case
By Cass Jones
The Guardian, Wednesday 14th March 2012
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/mar/14/doreen-lawrence-new-policyinquiry
In Macphersons footsteps: a journey through British racism
By Hugh Muir
The Guardian, Saturday 21st February 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/feb/21/stephen-lawrence-racismmachpherson-report
The murder of Zahid Mubarek
By Dominic Casciani
BBC News, Thursday 29th June 2006 02:16 GMT 03:16 UK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3198264.stm
U.K: Police accused off covering up violent campaign to Islamize the Tower
Hamlets borough of London
By Marisol

Jihad Watch, June 13 2011 1:04 AM

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2011/06/uk-police-accused-of-covering-up-violentcampaign-to-islamize-the-tower-hamlets-borough-of-london
Racial Harassment at Work, Equal Opportunities Review
1st May 1993
http://www.eortrial.co.uk/default.aspx?id=1070524
Tower Hamlets Race Equality Scheme 2009-20012
Scrutiny and Equality Team, Chief Executives Directorate, Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent, London E14 2BG, Tel: 020 7364 5347
http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgsl/851900/861_diversity_and_equalities/rac
e_equality.aspx
www.psi.org.uk/publications/archivepdfs/Harass/RVH1/pdf
London borough of Tower Hamlets, Community Safety Services, ASB
Strategy
www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/idoc.ashx?docid=8b949a37-3ofd-49f6-9a850230337b9fb4&version=-1
Reva Klein, TES Newspaper, 6th January 1995, Where prejudice still flares
into violence
http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=14085
Youth against Racism in Europe
http://www.yre.org.uk/index.html
Stop the Nazi BNP! Stopping the BNP in Tower Hamlets
http://www.yre.org.uk/towerhamlets.html
Support against Racist Incidents
S.A.R.I
http://www.sariweb.org.uk
Tackling Racial attacks & Harassment, Model Procedures for Scottish
Housing Providers, Positive action in hosing, the chartered Institute of
Housing in Scotland, Scottish homes
http://www.paih.org
Jenny Bourne, Institute of Race Relations, November 11, 2002, Racial
violence
http://www.irr.org.uk/news/racial-violence/

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110218135832/rds.homeoffice.go
v.uk/rds/pdfs06/rdsolr2506.pdf

Marian Fitsgerald and Chris Hale, Crime in England 2009/2010

Crime in England and Wales 2009/2010Crime in England and Wales 2009/10
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110218135832/http://rds.homeoffi
ce.gov.uk/rds/crimeew0910.html
http://www.edenha.org.uk/files/documents/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20Racial
%20Harassment%2020_0.pdf
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/comrace.faith.crime/faq.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/police-told-to-reopeninquiry-into-bent-lawrence-detective-7542444.html