Sponsored by
Fighting back against hate crime
David Proud completes a form for Donna Walker outside the Hate Crime street bus parked in Western Avenue. Picture: Paul Franks/Peterborough ET
WHAT is Hate Crime? Is it discrimination against other races? Or genders? Or ages? Or disabilities? The answer is all of them, and although Peterborough is regarded as a fairly tolerant city, some prejudice and ignorance still exists.
We can sit back and let it happen, or we can fight it. And that is what the police, Peterborough City Council, Cross Keys Homes and other agencies under the umbrella of the SaferPeterborough Partnership are doing, as Deputy features editor John Baker discovered:
THE specially converted “Street Bus” is always an impressive sight as it makes its way through Peterborough.
Decked out with HD screens, the striking black vehicle with its spray-painted dancers and bright decal is commonly used for community and youth events,
On this rainy Thursday it was carrying another message, the message of intolerance to hate crime.
The bus visited areas of Dogsthorpe and Welland in a move originally sparked after 10 such crimes occurred within a few streets between April 2009 and July 2010, ranging from sinister and offensive graffiti to assault.
In total across the city there were 329 cases of hate crime last year, an average of almost one a day.
Peterborough is not unusual, in that hate crime happens everywhere.
The high-profile case of Fiona Pilkington, who committed suicide with her disabled daughter after a prolonged period of abuse by thugs in Leicestershire and whose plight was shown in an IPCC (Independent Police Complaints Commission) report last week, proves that it exists elsewhere.
And generally Peterborough is dealing with its racial tensions and winning; the community would point to the way the city stood together during the EDL marches last December.
But pockets still remain. Little incidents which can blight lives and ruin neighbourhoods.
So on this day rather than housing hip-hop or X-boxes, the bus was acting as a confidential screen for filling in questionnaires.
Shoppers and shop owners, pedestrians and youngsters were asked about their experiences in five different areas; Western Avenue and Central Avenue in Dogsthorpe, and Spar car park, Belvoir Way and the Charteris Centre in Welland.
But as well as finding out if people have suffered from name calling, bullying, criminal damage and other examples it was also important to know if people reported the issues – and if not, why not?
The event was fronted by David Proud, the former Eastenders actor who has Spina Bifida and has suffered at the hands of bullies despite - or perhaps because of - his achievements.
David, who lives in Whittlesey, was subjected to disgraceful behaviour from an ignorant yob at a music festival (see sidebar).
He was enthusiastic about the day, as was Peterborough police Inspector Matt Newman.
He said: “I think it’s a fantastic idea, a vibrant event and a great step towards saying that people won’t stand for hate crime.
“Being different isn’t a crime but being racially abusive is, and the people who do it will be prosecuted.
“You can compare it to drink driving – that has a stigma and is regarded as totally unacceptable now, but it’s taken a long time to get to that point.”
The typical hate offender is a young white male, most homophobic offenders are aged 16 to 20 and most race hate offenders are under 30, while the abuse can also comprise of arson, assault, criminal damage and graffiti.
So fear of reprisals could be a factor, but this can be overcome, as street leader Kevin Bell can attest.
Last year he and a group of other residents were successful in getting the courts to impose a three-year ASBO on 17-year-old Robert Childerley, who had made their lives a misery through a string of offences creating an atmosphere of fear on Oundle Road.
Mr Bell, who is also chair of the east and north neighbourhood policing panels, said: “A lot of people are frightened to report these things because they are scared of repercussions.
“But there are people who can help you go where you need to go, or “hold your hand” and go with you. I have held the hands of seven people before by getting them to make a group statement.
“If we can reduce the fear of crime through initiatives like this, then we have done our job.”
The weather wasn’t perfect for the afternoon, but in each location a steady flow of young and old, black and white, and girl and boy filled in questionnaires and picked up car stickers, badges and cuddly bears to spread the message that hate crime cannot be tolerated.Peterborough City Council is also perpetuating that message by placing stickers in taxi cabs and fast food restaurants, carrying warnings and a number to ring if drivers or restaurant employees are targeted,
The results will now be calibrated and a plan put together by Cross Keys Homes Anti-social behaviour manager Gemma Woods, who oversees a team to deal with crime and antisocial behaviour.
Speaking after the event she said: “More than 50 surveys were completed.
“What was also really positive is that some attendees from other agencies in Dogsthorpe and Welland have taken some surveys away to ask people to complete them. We also took down some reports of anti-social behaviour, and one report of hate crime.
“The overall response was that residents welcomed the work in the area and having the opportunity to talk to so many agencies.
“It has become very clear that as thought, people just don’t know what hate crime is and therefore the SaferPeterborough partnership leaflets were issued and we discussed with people what it is, which is the first step in raising awareness and ensuring people get the right support.”
David tells of his abuse at the hands of a yob
“It was a lovely summer day and I had taken time off from working on EastEnders to attend V Festival with my friend Matt.
“I was absolutely loving life, working on a great show and enjoying spending time with my friends when a young man walked past me and called me a cripple.
“I had just watched a few bands on the main stage at V Festival and was heading to a different stage when this young guy walked past, pointed, laughed and said “raspberry ripple” which is rhyming slang for the worst thing you can ever call a disabled person.
“Suddenly my confidence and love for life vanished. I wanted to go home. It almost ruined my entire weekend, and had I not spent a lifetime dealing with people that don’t think before they speak, it would have.
“The horrible thing about this story is that it happened not too long ago, not in the 90’s or the distant past. A true example that there is still much that needs to be done about people’s attitudes to disability.
So taking this into account if someone handed me a ticket that enabled me to be “normal” would I take it? The answer is simple, I would kindly decline.
“The reason is I like being ‘extra ordinary’ and I am happy with who I am. If we were all the same conversations would certainly become very dull.
“The diversity of life it what makes it interesting. I would encourage anyone not to worry about fitting in, try standing out and enjoy being whoever you are.
“Peterborough is a beautifully diverse city and when I am not working I love spending time with family and friends in the city.
“It’s really important that we talk about how we can reduce hate crime within the city, from verbal abuse to actual physical abuse. Nobody should be afraid to walk the streets of Peterborough in fear of hate crime.
“People generally fear what they don’t know and through lack of understanding can cause serious offence. I am sure that the young man at V Festival might have regretted saying what he did, and I am 100 per cent sure if he knew anything about me he would have never said it.
“If there is a section of the community you have never met before, how about taking five minutes to find out about them?
“And if you have been the recipient of hate crime you must report it. Bill Hicks famously once said, “life is just a ride”, and we have only once choice, to live in fear, or to live in love. I know out of those two what my choice will always be.”
Commenting on this story is now closed
Thank you for your contributions. You can mail us news@peterboroughtoday.co.uk, discuss on Twitter.com with us @peterboroughet or find more ways to have your say at peterboroughtoday.co.uk/yoursay
Related links:
SaferPeterborough Partnership - www.peterborough.gov.uk/safer_peterborough.aspx
SaferPeterborough Partnership: Hate Crime - www.peterborough.gov.uk/safer_peterborough/our_priorities/hate_crime.aspx
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
