Bi-lingual Support for Victims of Race Hate Crime Belfast/Mid-Ulster Joanna Kuberczyk Northwest Agnieszka Luczak

Bi-lingual Support for Victims of Race Hate Crime Support to victims of racial harassment, intimidation and discrimination Client centred approach to people’s experience and their need for specialised and comprehensive support Funded by the PSNI since 2009 – first with the Polish Association and Chinese Welfare Association Two Bi-lingual Support workers to cover Northern Ireland based in Belfast/Mid Ulster and Northwest Victim Support NI has a Coordinator role that liaises with and works in partnership with us and other advocates across the sectors

Bi-lingual Support for Victims of Race Hate Crime OUR ROLE: To support victims of hate crime in partnership with Victim Support NI – as part of the service they offer. To contact PSNI through Call Management/HASCOs for case details and await victim’s consent from IOs. To provide a client centred service by doing an assessment of needs and a developing a plan to meet those needs To work with the PSNI to ensure that there is good communication to victims To assist with third party reporting

Bi-lingual Support for Victims of Race Hate Crime To work with other agencies as necessary to ensure the victim receives the support they need To build confidence of the BME community in the PSNI To raise awareness of our role within the PSNI and the community To identify good and bad practice in response to victims WE DO NOT: Act as interpreters or schedule interpreters for interactions with the PSNI

Impact of Racial Harassment “Racism, in general terms, consists of conduct or words or practices which disadvantage people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin. In its more subtle form it is as damaging as in its overt form.” No physical violence but the impact of sustained hate motivated verbal abuse and harassment is just as damaging – Paul Iganski, Lancaster University, 2008, Hate Crime and the City 1999 study by Irwin and Dunn on the incidence of racially motivated crime: Verbal Abuse – 44% Criminal Damage – 29% Physical Assault – 10%

Impact of Racial Harassment Feelings of being victimised and vulnerable Not welcome by the majority population Increase exclusion and social isolation Imprisoned in own home

Impact of Racial Harassment “The worst time of day to leave the house is when the children get out of the schools.” “Sometimes I can see racism in a person’s face or in the way someone looks at me.” “It can be very frightening even to open the door.” “Not a week can go by without someone in that week calling me Chinky.”

Responding to Victims of Hate Crime ‘Any hate incident, which constitutes a criminal offence, perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by prejudice or hate.’ ‘Is it a hate crime?’ A victim might not understand the term, ‘hate crime,’ even if using qualified interpreters. In some languages there is no direct translation of the term ‘hate crime’. This is not a universal concept and may need to be explained. A more universal question is ‘ Do you feel the crime was commited because you are _________?’ This will ensure more accurate statistics and that nationality and ethnicity are recorded as well

Good Practice You do not need to speak the ‘victim’s’ language a to gain trust. A friendly approach breaks down language barriers. Quick referrals to support schemes and gaining victim’s consent to pass on details quickly ensures higher confidence. Regular contact with victims or the support workers to keep people updated about the progress of their case. Visibility by participation in the activities/events of different community groups

Not so Good Practice Questioning a victim’s ‘perception’ of what has happened and their reasons for this perception Asking the victim for proof or evidence. Unwillingness to use interpreting services (BIG WORD and interpreters) Avoiding contact with the actual victims because of the language barrier. Giving more weight to what is said by local people (as potential witnesses or the actual offender). Not recording or addressing racially motivated verbal abuse and ‘anti-social behaviour’.

Thank you Belfast/Mid-Ulster Joanna Kuberczyk Northwest Agnieszka Luczak