1. POLICING RACIST VIOLENCE AND CRIME IN THE EU Sofia - CSD 28-29 September 2006 Dr. Jo Goodey Programme Manager – Research EUMC

2. 2 Background Follows Report on ‘Racist Violence in the EU15’ Focuses specifically on policing responses to racist violence and crime in EU25

3. 3 Methodology RAXEN National Focal Points (NFPs) Twenty five Member States Rapid Response Survey – 14 days October 2004 Short questionnaire Provides ‘snapshot’ overview

4. 4 Questionnaire focus 1.police recording practices for racist crimes 2.responsibility for establishing racial motivation 3.police responses to victims of racist crimes 4.specialist training provision for the police 5.police engagement with civil society

5. 5 1. Police recording practices Whether police record if crime racially motivated  according to specific crimes and/or ‘racial motivation’ possible for range of offences Whether police issued with instructions about how to determine whether crime is ‘racist’  8 of 25 issued with instructions Whether ethnicity/nationality of victims/offenders recorded  2 of 25 record ethnicity

6. 6 2. Establishing racial motivation Responsibility with police and prosecutors Important role of police as gatekeepers Whether importance assigned to victim’s role UK working definition ‘A racist incident is any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person ’

7. 7 3. Police response to victims Whether police themselves able to offer support to victims of racist crime  in 20 of 25 police unable to offer specific support themselves  in Sweden and UK – national policy for police support Whether police can refer victims to specialist support services  general absence of specialist services

8. 8 4. Training provision for police Whether need for specialist training identified  In 9 MSs need identified / partial recognition in 7 What specialist training exists  In 5 MSs specialist training / partial or planned in 9 Whether training identifies repeat victimisation  Directly addressed in UK / recognised in Sweden Awareness training on racism in police / society  In 8 MSs training / limited or planned in 10

9. 9 5. Police engagement with civil society Whether police promote reporting racist crime  Generally promoted in 1 MS / limited initiatives in 9 Whether police work with NGOs/communities  Work routinely in 5 MSs / limited initiatives in 16 Whether police publicise their work  Generally measures in 5 MSs / limited initiatives in 5 Whether police assess victim satisfaction  Reported at some level in 4 MSs

10. 10 General Findings Approaches differ widely between MSs General lack of comprehensive policing response to racist violence Minority MSs show examples of ‘good practice’ Often only specific or local- level initiatives UK shows the most comprehensive policing approach to racist crime & violence France, Germany and Sweden also show serious commitment

11. 11 General Findings No provision for recording racial motivation in most MSs Information on ethnicity rarely recorded Support for victims needs strengthening Few MSs have specialist training in place Many initiatives just address ‘multiculturalism’ and ‘racism’ generally Police engagement with civil society needs to be further developed

12. 12 Main Finding In the majority of Member States police responses to racist crime and violence are inadequate and require further development to make them effective

13. 13 Action at Member State level Need for adequate legal and policy framework Police leadership to show commitment Requirement for police to record ‘racial motivation’ Procedural guidance for police Specialist training to be provided with NGO input Specialist police posts to be established Mechanisms to encourage reporting of racist crime Statistical analysis of racially-motivated crime

14. 14 Action at EU level Need for further in-depth research on policing Need for comparative victim survey across EU Legislation to require MSs to have adequate laws Requirement for police to record racial motivation Funded programme to support police response NGO-police cooperation Transnational exchange experience/good practice Actions to be coordinated between international bodies