Insights into Far Right Threat, Hate Crime and Community Cohesion Work

Section 1: FAR RIGHT THREAT

• 81% (19) of organisations are very concerned or extremely concerned about the far right threat
• Over half of organisations have experienced far right threat/activity in the last 6 months
• 48% of organisations report that far right activity against them or their service users has increased in the last 12 months
• Over half of organisations report that service users are aware of far right activity and negatively impacted. Many are afraid, anxious and scared to leave their accommodation
• 95% of organisations (20) are responding to the far right threat but face challenges which include; lack of staff capacity (57%), lack of understanding about what the far right threat is and how we can respond (38%) and difficulty collaborating with hotel contractors (29%)
• 48% of organisations feel moderately confident about their organisations ability to respond to far right activity
• Organisations highlight the need for a sector and national level response to the threats through agreed protocols for responding, discussions, briefings, training, and collaborative working with the police and other parties
• Many organisations highlight how online attacks have increased especially when the organisation has commented or protested against far right gatherings and attacks

“[We] know of two protests outside two initial accommodation sites (so affected service users) and far-right activist filming outside two hotels”

Support needs outlined by respondents:

1. Training and collective support for organisations including regular briefings on far right threat, practical advice workshops and preventative actions which can be taken.
2. Developing a sector-wide set of recommended responses such as agreed protocols that would include how to respond to different kinds of threats (e.g. online, in person).
3. Joint working and local coordination to identify hot-spots, share risk assessments and present shared concerns to police, hotel contractors and local authorities.
4. Sharing of risk assessment templates across organisations to boost capacity to respond.‍
5. Clearer understanding of the duties of Home Office/Local authorities/Contractors on these issues - e.g. perhaps an assessment tool to show what these actors should be doing to meet the threshold of the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) regarding asylum hotels and fostering good community relations.

“[Hate Crime] has not been a big issue, especially in the traditional areas, however with hotels opening in areas with less diversity and no familiarity with asylum seekers this has become an issue now.“

Section 2: HATE CRIME AND COMMUNITY COHESION WORK

• 55% of people are aware of tensions or hostilities arising in the local communities in which their services operate with 45% reporting an increase in the last 12 months
• 60% of respondents said their service users have experienced abuse and hate crime in the local community with the majority having experienced verbal abuse, threats and harassment. Six organisations highlighted physical violence while seven organisations reported damage to property of their service users
• 90% of organisations see race or ethnicity as the main target amongst their service users who experience abuse and hate crime with 65% believing that it is also related to religion or belief and 30% sexual orientation

“Local children/youths have frequently turned up to the hotel in the evening on bikes with balaclavas on and on one occasion caused damage to cars parked outside the hotel. They are from the high school that some Afghan children attend. Bullying and tension between the two groups are perceived to be race-hate motivated.”

74% of organisations would like to be further involved in community cohesion events.

The main barriers to doing more community cohesion work include:

• Lack of funding
• Lack of expertise or knowledge of good practice around this work
• Difficulty engaging with the local community and lack of support from other local actors (e.g. local authorities, Police)

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