The Partnership Co-ordinator presented a report which updated the Cabinet Committee Equalities on the Community Cohesion Survey and the role of the Community Cohesion Officer within Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC).

 

She explained that in December 2018 the Welsh Government issues their ‘intention to fund’ email to all Regional Community Cohesion Co-coordinators in Wales. They indicated that each region would be allocated £140,000 with the aim to:

 

•           Identify and mitigate community tensions (hate crime, extremism, anxiety, anti-social behaviour) relating to Brexit;

•           Improve community cohesion communications;

•           Organise events/activities to promote social inclusion; and

•           Deliver non Brexit activities as outlined in the National Community Cohesion Plan (2019).

 

The Partnership Co-ordinator advised that a Brexit Community Cohesion Delivery Plan was developed as part of the funding application. Details of this were at Appendix 1 of the report.

 

She advised that one of the key objectives of the plan was the development of a mapping exercise to better understand the impacts of Brexit on communities. A total of 183 people responded to the survey and a copy of the report can be found at appendix 2. A summary of the responses are listed at section 4.7 of the report. She added that most of the responses were from non EU nationals, with a participation percentage from non EU nationals of 2%, which was disappointing, as they had hoped to gain more responses from EU Nationals. She added that a tension monitoring system was undertaken which provided the hate crime figures

 

The Partnership Co-ordinator explained that a tension monitoring system was undertaken, which provided the hate crime figures for April to June and June to August 2019 and compared them with 2018. Details were listed below:

 

Hate crime figures April to June 2019 are as follows:-

•           BCBC = 23 hate crimes

•           Racial – 10

•           Disability – 4

•           Sex orientation – 10

•           Transgender – 0

 

Compared to the same period last year (April to June 2018)

•           BCBC = 18 hate crimes

•           Racial – 13

•           Religion - 1

•           Disability – 2

•           Sex orientation – 2

 

Hate crime figures June to August 2019-

•           TOTAL = 34 hate crimes

•           Racial – 26

•           Religion – 2

•           Disability – 5

•           Sex orientation – 3

•           Transgender – 0

 

Compared to the same period last year (June to August 2019)

•           TOTAL = 34 hate crimes

•           Racial – 19

•           Religion - 2

•           Disability – 5

•           Sex orientation – 7

•           Transgender – 1

 

The Partnership Co-ordinator advised that while there had not been a surge in figures, there had been a small increase in figures compared to the same time last year.

 

The Cabinet Member Education and Regeneration believed that the increase in hate crime may well be attributed to Brexit and the tensions surrounding this and that it could be largely underreported in Bridgend.

 

The Cabinet Member Wellbeing and Future Generations expressed her concern over the lack of results from the survey, as there was not enough data from enough areas of Bridgend, most of which appeared to be from the Pen Y Fai area.

 

The Partnership Co-ordinator explained that there was very limited local data to analyse and as there were no hotspots or problem areas identified, which made it difficult to pinpoint any particular areas of concern. She noted that there was a slight increase in Schools, particularly Maesteg Comprehensive School and Brynteg Comprehensive School.

 

The Partnership Co-ordinator advised that they now have a Community Cohesion Officer in post who was currently working on the EU Settlement Scheme in conjunction with the Job Centre.

 

A Member asked if the Community Cohesion Officer will be seen in the community face to face. The Partnership Co-Ordinator confirmed that this would be the case.

 

She advised that the Community Cohesion Officer would also work with families to increase their knowledge about the facilities available to EU Nationals, she was meeting with a representative from Show Racism the Red Card to help identify and tackle hate crime in the area.

 

The Cabinet Member Communities explained that he recently attended a Police and Crime Commissioner conference in Warwick where he was presented with figures showing how Brexit had been considered to affect hate crime. He stated that South Wales was below average compared with other areas with there being a spike during the referendum but has since dropped. The police have stated that whatever happens with Brexit, but particularly in the event that the UK remains in the EU, they believe that there will be a spike in hate crime.

 

The Partnership Coordinator explained that the Community Cohesion Officer will be doing work in the communities including more involvement in schools and churches etc. to see if they can get more information. She explained that when Brexit is talked about, people often shelter away from answering so this was something to consider going forward.

 

A Member thanked the Partnership Coordinator for the report and mentioned that many of the Members have seen examples of hate crime with relation to Brexit. He said he was concerned to see an increase in schools and asked what the most common form of hate crime was.

 

The Partnership Coordinator explained that the type of hate crime ranges and was not exclusive to any in particular, she added that the hate crime can be amongst English and Welsh pupils too.

 

A Member mentioned that hate crimes have increased in Maesteg and Brynteg but worried that issues are going on in other schools that may have gone unreported. She asked how this was going to be looked at.

 

The Partnership Coordinator explained that funding had been provided by Welsh Government which will be used for five different schools. A mix of schools will be targeted to ensure that a wide enough scope of work is being undertaken.

 

A Member mentioned that many hate crimes are reported online and asked what could be done to ensure we are getting data from social media etc. The Partnership Coordinator explained that the police have software that they use to identify issues online.

 

A Member said that social media apps are showing an increase in hate crime including political targeting in Maesteg area. He asked the Partnership Coordinator if she had any figures to provide for the reported incidences. The Partnership Coordinator said that she did not have those figures to hand but could look into this.

 

The Cabinet Member Future Generations and Wellbeing asked a question on behalf of a Member, he asked how long the funding was for.

 

The Partnership Coordinator explained that the funding was for a part time Officer. The Community Cohesion Officer is now full time up until April 2021 but the funding runs out after this date and there is currently no provision in place to continue the funding after this, however, the team are looking to secure more funding.

 

The Deputy Leader mentioned that he had seen some unpleasant comments about people online and asked how Councillors would go about reporting this behaviour

 

The Partnership Coordinator said that she could provide the contact details of the Community Cohesion Officer as well as our regional officer.

 

The Deputy Leader suggested that these details be made available to the general public so that they could also report the negative behaviour that they came across

 

The Cabinet Member Wellbeing and Future Generations mentioned that more promotion of the Community Safety Partnership page on the BCBC website would be beneficial to Members and the general public

 

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Committee Equalities noted and accepted the content of the report.