Racial Harassment Information and advice · What’s racial harassment? Racial harassment is a criminal offence, as defined by the Equality Act 2010, and takes place when a person

Racial HarassmentInformation and advice

for Gypsies and Travellers

Racial Harrasment A5_Layout 1 26/05/2011 09:45 Page 1

Challenging racial harassment Everyone has a right to live in peace butunfortunately some Gypsies / Travellers livingon sites and elsewhere experience racialharassment.

East Lothian and Midlothian Councils,working in partnership with Lothian andBorders Police, are committed to:

• Taking firm action against theperpetrators of racism and racialharassment.

• The thorough investigation of allreported racist incidents.

What’s racial harassment?Racial harassment is a criminal offence, asdefined by the Equality Act 2010, and takesplace when a person from one racial orethnic group offends, upsets or threatenssomeone from another racial or ethnic group.You may experience racial harassment from

your neighbours or other people in thecommunity.

Any behaviour that makes you feeldistressed, alarmed or afraid, which violatesyour dignity or which creates an intimidating,hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensiveenvironment can be classed as harassment.

Racial harassment can present itself in manyforms. Examples of possible racist incidentscould include:

• verbal abuse, such as name-calling,insults or racist jokes

• damage to property, for example,vandalism, racist graffiti, breakingwindows or starting fires

• nuisance telephone calls, texts or emails

• bullying, intimidation and threats

• physical abuse or violence

• publishing and distributing leaflets ornewspapers likely to cause racial hatred.

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What can I do if I’m being harassedand how can I get help? Many Gypsies / Travellers are not willing totake action against people who harass thembecause they fear it may make the situationworse.

Talking through what’s happening to youwith family, friends and neighbours maymake a difference and help you sort thingsout.

It is important to keep a record of allincidents as they happen, e.g. times, dates,what happened, where, witnesses, etc. Keepany offensive material as it forms evidence inlegal action, e.g. graffiti on a wall or a leafletor note through your door. Do not eraseabusive text-messages or messages on yourtelephone answer machine as they too areevidence and may help to identify theperpetrator.

Make sure that everyone living in and visitingyour household knows what racialharassment is and that it is unacceptable.

If you are currently experiencing orwitnessing racial harassment and / orbelieve that there is an immediate risk ofharm to you or someone else, please callthe police immediately on 999.

In addition, you may wish to advise one ofthe following about your situation:

East Lothian’s Travelling Peoples Manager(0131) 654 2095, or

East Lothian Council’s Antisocial BehaviourTeam (01620) 829919, or

Midlothian Council’s Community SafetyTeam (0131) 271 6677, or

Shelter Scotland’s Independent Advice andSupport Service 0344 515 2526



What can East Lothian and MidlothianCouncils and Lothian and BordersPolice do?If neighbours or other people in thecommunity are harassing you, both Councilsand the Police have procedures in place fordealing with racist incidents. They will aimto:

• Treat your report as a high priority case.

• Deal with all reports sensitively and withunderstanding.

• Maintain regular contact with you andkeep you informed, including the resultof the investigation.

• Take firm action against perpetrators(including evictions, Anti SocialBehaviour Orders and / or interdicts).

• Refer you to relevant specialist supportor advocacy agencies for advice andsupport.

• In some cases, they may arrange forsecurity measures such as extra locksand fireproof letterboxes, or even moveyou to a more secure location.

The Councils and Police will not make youdo anything you do not want to do.

How can I report information withouttalking to the police directly?For different reasons, some people arereluctant to go to the Police to report acrime. There are a number of organisationsthroughout East Lothian and Midlothianwhere victims, witnesses, carers or otherscan speak privately to a member of staff andthey will pass your information onto thePolice.

As such you can report a crime (as analternative) through a third party organisationto help lessen some of the concerns youmay have when reporting incidents. Allparticipating organisations have staff trained



in how to take the details of an incident andcan also offer further support or advice tothe person reporting the incident.

How remote reporting worksThe victim of racial harassment is given theoption of reporting an incident or providinginformation formally, informally oranonymously. The third party agency notesbasic details of the incident and passes thisto a relevant local Police Inspector, whoallocates the incident for enquiry.

It is the responsibility of the investigatingofficer to make contact with the third partyagency to maintain communication betweenthe victim, agency and police officer andensure that all parties are aware of thestages of the investigation.

For more information regardingparticipating remote reporting agencies inEast Lothian and Midlothian pleasecontact:

Dusty Miller, Travelling Peoples Site Manageron (0131) 654 2095, or

Rebecca Spillane, East Lothian CouncilEqualities Policy Officer on (01620) 827134,or

Midlothian Council’s Community SafetyTeam on (0131) 271 6677, or

Mhairi Craig, Shelter Advice and SupportService on 0344 5152526.



I have been discriminated againstwhile I have been in contact with EastLothian or Midlothian Council. Whocan I report it to?Both Councils are committed to eliminatingany form of harassment and discrimination inall aspects of work. If you have experiencedor witnessed an incident of discriminationthat has occurred:

• Whilst visiting a Council building;

• When receiving a Council service; and

• By a member of staff whilst working forthe Council;

The Councils want to hear about it.

You can do so by speaking to East LothianCouncil’s Customer Feedback Manager on(01620) 827497, an appropriate member ofstaff or by completing the form, ‘How tomake a compliment, complaint or commentabout a Council service’ which is availableon request from staff members, local officesand from the Council’s website.

To complain or give comments to MidlothianCouncil visit www.midlothian.gov.uk, [email protected] or phone 0131561 5444.



Useful contacts

Inspector, SaferCommunities Department, Lothian and Borders Gypsy /Traveller Police LiaisonOfficer (East Lothian &Midlothian) (0131) 654 5513

Crimestoppers 0800 555 111

East Lothian Council (during office hours)(01620) 827 827 (emergency outside officehours)(01875) 612 818

East Lothian CouncilAntisocial Behaviour hotline0845 601 8518

East Lothian CommunityMediation, The Brunton Hall,Ladywell Way, [email protected](this service is independent,free & confidential)0131 653 5295

Dusty Miller, TravellingPeoples Site Manager (0131) 654 2095

Mhairi Craig, Shelter Advice and Support Service 0344 515 2526

East Lothian CouncilCustomer FeedbackManager (complaints,compliments andsuggestions)(01620) 827 497

Midlothian Council Antisocial Behaviour hotline (0131) 271 6677

Midlothian Council Housing(office hours)(0131) 271 3569

Midlothian CouncilEmergency Homelessnessassistance (out of officehours)(0131) 663 7211

The Equality and HumanRights Commission helpline(information and guidance ondiscrimination and human rights issues) 0845 604 5510


Versionsof this booklet can besupplied in Braille, large

print, on audiotape or in yourown language. Phone thePublic Information Officer

on 01620 827199RH leaflet/SB/June11/v1.01


Documents

Racial Harassment Information and advice · What’s racial harassment? Racial harassment is a criminal offence, as defined by the Equality Act 2010, and takes place when a person