Criminal justice agencies committed to addressing hate crime but common approach must be adopted
15/01/2007
An independent report by Criminal Justice Inspection on how hate crime is managed in Northern Ireland has shown criminal justice agencies display a commendable commitment to tackling the issue.
PRESS RELEASE
15 January 2007
Criminal justice agencies committed to addressing hate crime but common approach must be adopted
An independent report by Criminal Justice Inspection on how hate crime is managed in Northern Ireland has shown criminal justice agencies display a commendable commitment to tackling the issue.
Inspectors found good work being done by all the criminal justice agencies to improve the management of hate crime, but that different approaches had been adopted by individual agencies.
“The fundamental need identified by Inspectors to improve the management of hate crime within the criminal justice system is for a more consistent, integrated and systematic approach to the reporting, recording, investigation and prosecution of hate crime offences,” said Kit Chivers, Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice.
“CJI has recommended that the Criminal Justice Board should co-ordinate the development of a criminal justice system Hate Crime Strategy that would be communicated to all staff and to the public.
“Inspectors have also suggested there needs to be agreement on a common set of hate crime definitions for use within the criminal justice system that are communicated clearly across all agencies,” added the Chief Inspector.
Looking specifically at the contribution made by the PSNI – which has the prime responsibility for responding to hate crime -- Mr. Chivers noted the Police Service has good policies and procedures in place for managing hate crime and that the organisation had engaged in a positive consultation exercise with communities in relation to them.
However, he said Inspectors found awareness of these policies and procedures varied both among officers and from one policing district to another.
“Excellent work has been done by the Police Service towards developing the use of interpreters which other agencies can learn from. The introduction of Minority Liaison Officers within police District Command Units has been a great success and has contributed to an improvement in relations with members of minority communities,” stated Mr. Chivers.
Despite these developments however, under reporting of hate crime remains a key concern for the PSNI, other criminal justice agencies and community sector support groups.
“If victims do not report incidents of hate crime to the police it can, for example, reduce the chances of victims receiving the support they need, reduce the chances of the perpetrator being apprehended or convicted and can result in lower and false volume of crime against which policing priorities and resources are set,” said the Chief Inspector.
He continued: “In terms of bringing offences of hate crime before the courts it would be helpful if the Public Prosecution Service could work more closely with police officers to guide them through the difficult legal questions that arise. This is particularly important as the prosecution of an offence as a ‘hate crime’ requires a stricter, evidential test than the criteria required for record keeping.”
The report has also recommended the Public Prosecution Service develop its own hate crime policy with links to those of other agencies.
And it has advocated the practice of notifying prosecutors to ensure that all instances of hate crime are prominently marked on files and brought to the attention of the court.
“This practice is already in place in one PPS region and CJI has recommended it should be rolled out across the Prosecution Service,” said Mr. Chivers.
In conclusion, the Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice said: “Hate crime reflects upon the attitudes and prejudice that exists within our society. It is important that every citizen and every organisation across all sections of society accept their shared responsibility to tackle this difficult issue.
“While steps can be taken by each of the agencies within the criminal justice system to improve the management of hate crime, the problem needs to be addressed on a wider front. The whole of society has a responsibility for confronting and finding solutions to hate crime – it is not the sole responsibility of the criminal justice system.”