An Angus councillor has said there should be no let-up in efforts to tackle hate crimes despite a significant dip in the number of recorded incidents last year.
Against the background of Black Lives Matter protests worldwide, Kirriemuir SNP councillor Julie Bell said the “time for action is now” after the area’s scrutiny committee were presented with the latest data on Angus-wide incidents.
Last year’s tally of 24 substantive racially-aggravated crimes was less than a third of the previous year’s tally of 75, but Ms Bell said even the lower figure was cause for alarm.
Reminding colleagues of the four-year anniversary of the murder of MP Jo Cox, she said: “If Angus thinks it doesn’t think it exist in our communities we’re sadly deluded.”
“The 24 crimes gives me caused for concern and I really want people in Angus and beyond to feel they can report things when they happen to reduce the likelihood of hate crimes.”
Tayside’s top policeman, Chief Superintendent Andrew Todd told councillors he recognised the profile around the issue at present, and said a HIMAP (Hate Incident Multi Agency Panel) group was being set up in Angus.
“We don’t see a huge substantive problem and no themes, but that it not to diminish it in any way,” he told the remote committee.
He said a challenge around the recording of figures was the different recording systems for substantive hate crimes and those which have a racially-motivated element.
“Racism and discrimination in any form is unacceptable. My view is that hate crime is an under-reported crime – the figures aren’t the be all and end all.”
