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Race crimes on the rise in borough
Hate crimes were reported to police in Barnet at a rate of five a day last year, with racist crimes rising more than in any other borough.
In the 12 months up to May this year, police recorded 1,859 hate crimes, which include domestic and homophobic incidents, as well as racist crimes.
The number of reported racist crimes alone increased by 21.3 per cent in the borough, from 314 in the year ending May 2007, to 381 in the following 12 months.
The percentage increase is higher than in any other London borough and is set against a fall in reported racist crimes of 11.1 per cent in the capital as a whole.
Detective Inspector Tony Caetano, of Barnet police's community safety unit, said the figures show victims are confident in approaching the police and recognise that positive action will be taken, rather than an actual increase in the number of offences.
He said: "All hate crimes are treated with the utmost importance with a dedicated unit thoroughly investigating each crime, which has led to more people than ever before being identified for these callous crimes.
"The work undertaken by police with the community in encouraging people to come forward to report all types of hate crimes, with confidential third-party reporting sites across the borough and through community groups."
Hate crimes accounted for seven per cent of crime across the borough in the last year, with 1,469 domestic violence reported - a slight decrease on the previous year. Nine homophobic incidents were reported both last year and the year before.
The latest figures follow a series of London-wide raids, as part of Operation Athena which aims to combat hate crimes, in which four people were arrested.
Councillor Brian Gordon is chairman of Barnet Council's tackling crime and housing overview and scrutiny committee, which last year published a hate crime review.
He said: "We work closely with the police, but the situation can be even better so we can keep these sorts of crimes to a minimum.
"Hate crimes have a very detrimental effect on the community and, in a borough where we have such a large number of religions, races and cultures living together, we want to ensure relations remain good and they have the opportunity to co-exist."
Aruna Patel, manager of Barnet Multicultural Community Centre, believes people do feel more comfortable approaching police to report hate crimes.
She said: "For me the figures suggest third-party reporting is working and the police are promoting the procedures to people a lot better.
"It is definitely positive that they can approach the police and know that the support is there for them.
"It is hugely important for us all to be cohesive and work together in the community and remove the stigmatism. It is a culturally inclusive borough and we hope to protect the cultural identity to ensure there areno barriers to any areas of the community."
Det Insp Caetano added: "The partnership work between Safer Neighbourhoods teams and the council in the community is encouraging many to come forward for the first time to report hate crimes.
"It is a priority that victims come forward to report these matters so we can target those people and those areas where these crimes are occurring.
"Without this true picture, we would have an incomplete guide as to where to target our resources to eradicate those who continue to offend."
9:35am Friday 4th July 2008
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