The Monitoring Group
The Monitoring Group is a leading anti-racist charity that promotes civil rights. We provide a helpline and casework service to people experiencing racial violence, religious hatred, sexual violence and state neglect or misconduct.
We are the leading exponent of family led empowerment and justice campaigns in the UK. Over the past 25 years we have many led campaigns to help families including those of Kuldip Singh Sekon, Ricky Reel, Micheal Menson, Stephen Lawrence, Zahid Mubarek and Victoria Climbie. Some of these cases led to Public Judicial Inquiries and consequent changes in legislation, social policies and practices. Since the London Bombings we have worked with victim families of the carnage as well as Black Minority and Ethnic and Muslim groups and individuals affected by indiscriminate state-led policies in London, Midlands and the North.
The police will use the following definition to identify a racist incident:
“A racist incident is any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person”.
Since the publication of the Macpherson report the police will consider the term “racist incident” to include both crimes and non crimes and should report, record and investigate with equal commitment.
Racial harassment can encompass many criminal offences, such as common assault, threatening behaviour, actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm, and attempted arson.
What is a racist incident?
Reporting to the police
The police are responsible for investigating criminal offences, and ensuring that persons are prosecuted. They investigate a crime, arrest persons, and collect evidence. They pass information up to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), who make the decision to prosecute, or not to prosecute.
The Police now operate a positive arrest policy for racist crimes. This means that where there is sufficient evidence of an offence, with a power of arrest, the suspect(s) will be arrested.
Even if the police are not in a position to take action in response to that report, you will have a record of incidents to show that you felt they were worth reporting. This is especially important in cases where assailants defend themselves by making counter-allegations.