Proposed by Councillor Hayes

Labour member motion

We all have the right to be treated without discrimination. Council is gravely concerned with reports of a significant increase in racially motivated crimes in Oxford, and across the country, in the year since the referendum vote to leave the European Union. Regardless of how anyone voted in that referendum, all acts of hatred are unacceptable. Council takes pride in Oxford’s diversity and community cohesion and condemns all acts of racism, xenophobia, and homophobia.

The overwhelming response of Oxford’s citizens to these events has been to condemn them. Communities across Oxford have joined together to stress our common values of tolerance and unity.

This Council is committed to working with all our partners to challenge prejudice and intimidation, and will always take incidents of hate crime extremely seriously. We are also committed to ensuring that every person living and working in Oxford can feel that they are valued members of the community. Our city welcomes people from all over the world, in particular those EU nationals who are concerned about their rights and futures in the face of the British Government’s drive to a hard Brexit.

Council notes with concern that the longest prison sentence that a court can give for homophobic, transphobic or disability common assault is six months. This prison sentence length is a quarter of the two-year maximum for race and faith common assault. Council regrets that some groups should be seen as more worthy of protection than others, and is concerned that a hierarchy of hate crime undermines may victim confidence in the law.

Council urges everybody to report hate crime to the police if they experience or witness it. Reporting hate crime when it happens will help to stop it happening to somebody else. Without knowing that hate crime has been taking place, the police and other bodies cannot help to keep our communities safe. Reporting hate crime helps the police and those bodies to have a clear picture of the level of hate crime in Oxford and make the right decisions to stop it happening again.

This Council asks the Leader of Oxford City Council:

1.    to write to the Prime Minister with a request for an independent review of hate crime legislation, including measures to tackle online hatred and abuse.

2.    to invite the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley region to personally update Oxford City councillors on the practical measures that are being taken to fight hate crime, including overcoming possible barriers to reporting hate crime.

3.    to also make this update available to the public.

This Council asks the City Executive Board:

1.    to work with local organisations to raise awareness of hate crime and how to report it, starting this year.

Councillor Hayes proposed his submitted motion as set out in the briefing note.  He said that he would accept the amendment proposed by Councillor Thomas set out in the briefing note.

Councillor Azad seconded the amended motion.

After debate and on being put to the vote, the amended motion was declared carried.

Council agreed the following motion as amended:

We all have the right to be treated without discrimination. Council is gravely concerned with reports of a significant increase in racially motivated crimes in Oxford, and across the country, in the year since the referendum vote to leave the European Union. Regardless of how anyone voted in that referendum, all acts of hatred are unacceptable. Council takes pride in Oxford’s diversity and community cohesion and condemns all acts of racism, xenophobia, and homophobia.

The overwhelming response of Oxford’s citizens to these events has been to condemn them. Communities across Oxford have joined together to stress our common values of tolerance and unity.

This Council is committed to working with all our partners to challenge prejudice and intimidation, and will always take incidents of hate crime extremely seriously. We are also committed to ensuring that every person living and working in Oxford can feel that they are valued members of the community. Our city welcomes people from all over the world, in particular those EU nationals who are concerned about their rights and futures in the face of the British Government’s drive to a hard Brexit.

Council notes with concern that the longest prison sentence that a court can give for homophobic, transphobic or disability common assault is six months. This prison sentence length is a quarter of the two-year maximum for race and faith common assault. Council regrets that some groups should be seen as more worthy of protection than others, and is concerned that a hierarchy of hate crime undermines many victim’s confidence in the law.

Council urges everybody to report hate crime to the police if they experience or witness it. Reporting hate crime when it happens will help to stop it happening to somebody else. Without knowing that hate crime has been taking place, the police and other bodies cannot help to keep our communities safe. Reporting hate crime helps the police and those bodies to have a clear picture of the level of hate crime in Oxford and make the right decisions to stop it happening again.

This Council asks the Leader of Oxford City Council:

1.      to write to the Prime Minister with a request for an independent review of hate crime legislation, including measures to tackle online hatred and abuse.

2.      to invite the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley region to personally update Oxford City councillors on the practical measures that are being taken to fight hate crime, including overcoming possible barriers to reporting hate crime.

3.      to also make this update available to the public.

This Council asks the City Executive Board:

1.      to work with local organisations to raise awareness of hate crime and how to report it, starting this year; and

2.      ask officers to provide training for Oxford City Councillors on tackling hate crime and fostering community harmony.