Owner / Author:

Falkirk Community Safety Partnership

Organisation:

Community Planning / Safety Partnerships

Contact Details:

The strategy is available on the RAHMAS website www.rahmas.org.uk

or by contacting Shamime Mansoori, Secretary of RAHMAS Group on telephone # 01324 506012.
Strategy / Initiative Name:

Central Scotland Racial Attacks & Harassment Multi-Agency Strategy (RAHMAS)
Local Authority(ies):

Clackmannanshire
Falkirk
Group Targeted:

Victims of racial attack and harassment

Crime Type / Violence Activity:

Racial Motivation

Level(s):

Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Aims:

The RAHMAS vision is to 'provide a strong multi-agency partnership, which engages with local communities and is responsive to their needs.
The RAHMAS mission is to eliminate racist attacks and harassment, to respect diversity and promote good relations between people of all racial groups.

Approach:

A partnership approach was taken to this project involving the Falkirk Community Safety Partnership.

Project's Methodology:

• The roots of the group go back to the beginning of 1991 with the conference "All Together Now" organised by Central Regional Council and Central Scotland Racial Equality. A key issue coming out of the conference was that joint working between agencies and the community was a crucial aspect dealing with the problems of racial attacks and harassment.
• The first strategy was formulated in accordance with the 1989 Home Office report "The Response to Racial Attacks and Harassment Guidance for the Statutory Agencies" which in particularly identified those members of ethnic minority communities living in predominantly white areas may be particularly at risk.
• The Multi - Agency strategy was launched on the 8 June 1993 at Airth castle, after considerable debate and research into how complaints of racial attacks and harassment were handled in Central Scotland.
• The strategy document provides clear policy and procedures and is used as a working document promoted by the supporting agencies. The RAHMAS Partnership consists of key public agencies in the area, which includes representation from Central Scotland Police, Central Scotland Racial Equality Council Ltd, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Scottish Children's Reporter Administration, Stirling Council, Falkirk Council, Clackmannanshire Council, NHS Forth Valley, Forth Valley Colleges and Victim Support.
• Members from Central Scotland Chinese Association, the Bahai Community as well as the Pakistan Community also attend meetings.
• Central Scotland Racial Equality Council as the monitoring agency plays a key role in co-ordinating the strategy and collecting information on all incidents. When a complaint is made indicating a racist problem, a racial incident monitoring form is completed and submitted to Racial Equality Council by the agency receiving the complaint. This ensures consistency of approach across all agencies. A response to a complaint may involve action being taken by the receiving agency only. Where the nature of the complaint indicates that other agencies have responsibility a case conference is called to determine the best course of action to resolve the problem.
•  It is here that the value of the working together and the co-ordinated approach has proved effective in tackling cases of racial attacks and harassment. It also highlights the importance of victim centred and sensitive approach.
• The RAHMAS Partnership have launched their latest strategy designed to tackle racist attacks and harassment in the area
• Since its establishment in 1993, the RAHMAS partnership has made significant progress. This has included:
• Raising awareness of the affect racist incidents has on an individual, a family and the wider community.
• Providing training and guidance to partner agency staff to identify and deal with racist incidents more confidently, effectively and professionally.
• The establishment and development of a process to identify record and monitor racist incidents reported through each partner agency, which is open to scrutiny and offers the public options to report racist incidents.
• The establishment of a case conference procedure that provides multi-agency support and response to the person subjected to repeat victimisation.

Safer Business for Ethnic Minorities Initiative

The Safer Business Initiative was developed by RAHMAS in response to evidence which showed that the majority of racist incidents in the area occurred at business premises owned or managed by members of the BME community. The key aim of the initiative is to reduce racist crime and the fear of crime at business premises. Measures taken include the temporary provision of CCTV Equipment free of charge, the provision of a Safer Business Advice Booklet, personal safety and physical security surveys, relevant posters for display and improved contact with relevant agencies.

The RAHMAS Group have produced the first Safer Business Strategy which was launched at the same event.

Other Agencies Involved:

Central Scotland Police; Central Scotland Racial Equality Council Ltd; Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service; Scottish Children's Reporter Administration; Stirling Council; Falkirk Council; Clackmannanshire Council; NHS Forth Valley; Forth Valley Colleges and Victim Support.
Evaluation Process:

Not evaluated.

Evaluation Impact:

Not evaluated.

Evaluation Result:

Not Evaluated

Criticism:

N/a

Potential:

N/a