Although official figures indicate that racist harassment is decreasing, many incidents are reported only at a crisis point when abuse can no longer be tolerated. To support victims effectively social landlords have to ensure that they understand the victim’s perspective and can use a range of codes of practice, good practice guidelines and resources to help them respond to racist incidents.
Key messages:
- Some official figures seem to indicate that the experience of racist incidents and victimisation is decreasing. However, reported levels of incidents are still seen as only the ‘tip of the iceberg’ and there have been documented increases in incidents after major international terrorist attacks
- Most racist incidents occur in and around the home, and most racist incidents consist of abuse, intimidation and threats. Such incidents are not often reported immediately but at a crisis point when racist incidents can no longer be tolerated
- To support victims effectively social landlords have to ensure that they understand the victim’s perspective
- Social landlords have at their disposal a range of codes of practice, good practice guidelines and resources to help them respond to racist incidents, encourage reporting and support and work with victims.
Sections:
- The extent of racist incidents
- The level and evidence of under-reporting and under-recording
- Understanding the victim’s perspective
- Improving service responses
Author(s): Kusminder Chahal
Briefing series: Better Housing Briefing Paper 2
Publisher: Race Equality Foundation
Publication date: May 2007
