Agenda item

To consider a Notice of Motion – “Show Racism the Red Card” from Councillor Joan Butterfield (copy attached).

 

Councillor Barry Mellor put forward the following Notice of Motion on behalf of Councillor Joan Butterfield, who was unable to attend the meeting, for consideration by Full Council:

 

This local authority notes that since being established in 2006, Show Racism the Red Card (Wales) has worked with over 150,000 young people in Wales. Show Racism the Red Card education workers have witnessed for some years now growing anti- immigrant sentiment and anti-Muslim hatred to add to the older more established types of racism. They have become increasingly worried about the way in which migrant communities are being demonised for social problems which have varied and complex causes.

This council notes that:

Ø  Hate crime continues to increase across the UK with racially and religiously motivated hate crime accounting for over 80% of all hate crime in Wales.

Ø  The majority of referrals to Wales Extremism & Counter-Terrorism Unit (WECTU) are of individuals between 15 and 20 years of age.

Ø  An NSPCC investigation found that Welsh Police Forces have logged nearly 600 race hate offences against children over a 3-year period (2015 to 2018), with 240 of these crimes recorded last year (17/18), with toddlers and babies among the victims.

Ø  The charity surveyed 1,000 teachers and school support staff during Spring Term 2019 with results showing that 1 in 4 respondents had observed, responded to or had a pupil report racial discrimination in the previous 12 months.

 

This Council therefore resolves to: -

Ø  Consider the results of our 2019 survey as part of the councils Strategic Equality Plan

Ø  Consider commissioning the Show Racism the Red Card schools programme that will educate young people and teachers on addressing local issues

Ø  Commit to adhering to best practise that ‘schools should report and record all incidents of racism and report to councils annually’ Estyn/WAG.

 

During discussion the following points were raised:

·         Schools were doing everything possible to eradicate racism but hate crime was not only in schools but in all aspects of society.

·         It was agreed that parents and grandparents needed to take responsibility to educate their children and grandchildren regarding racial matters.

·         The Welsh Government were carrying out a piece of work to reduce hate crime.  As a local authority, DCC were doing as much as they could to reduce hate crime but required funding from the Welsh Government.

 

At this juncture, Councillor Richard Mainon proposed an amendment, seconded by Councillor Ann Davies.  The amendment was to change the first part of the resolution to “Consider the results of our 2019 survey” rather than “Consider the result of our 2019 survey as part of the council’s Strategic Equality Plan”.

 

A vote took place on the amendment as follows:

 

In favour – 15

Abstain – 4

Against – 7

 

Therefore, the amendment was carried and the substantive Motion was amended.

 

A vote on the amended substantive Motion then took place as follows:

 

In favour – 25

Abstain – 1

Against – 1

 

It was:

 

RESOLVED that this Council:

Ø  Consider the results of our 2019 survey

Ø  Consider commissioning the Show Racism the Red Card schools programme that will educate young people and teachers on addressing local issues

Ø  Commit to adhering to best practise that ‘schools should report and record all incidents of racism and report to councils annually’ Estyn/WAG.