National and global events have the potential to drive short term increases in hate crime incidents and police forces across the UK have reported worrying spikes in instances of hate crime of all kinds over the course of the last year, both in terms of verbal and physical abuse and tragically, some high profile terrorist attacks. But how can councils fulfil their duties to prevent these events and respond to them quickly when they occur? 

In partnership with Cloisters Chambers, the LGiU ran a lunchtime roundtable to discuss the legal responsibilities of council employees and elected members and the practical application of these duties.

It was attended by a a group of local authority officers and councillors with responsibility in this area and included a presentation and Q&A with barrister Declan O’Dempsey and a case study presentation from Menara Ahmed, VAWG, Domestic Abuse & Hate Crime Manager at the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

The papers for the event can be found below.

Declan O’Dempsey paper on ‘Tackling Hate Crime: the role of the local authority’

Menara Ahmed’s presentation on ‘Tackling Hate Crime in Tower Hamlets’

The LGiU’s notes from the event