Race is one of the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. It is unlawful for a person to discriminate on racial grounds against another person. For the purposes of the Act 'race' includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins. A racial group can be made up of two or more different racial groups (eg Black Britons). (ACAS July 2010)
It is illegal for local authorities to discriminate even accidentally or unintentionally on the grounds of race. The Act also includes a duty to promote racial equality and promote good relations between different groups.
To achieve this aim the council has published its Strategic Equality Plan and the related Objectives and Action Plan, which set out how it will ensure that race equality is mainstreamed into all its policies, functions and procedures.
The Community Cohesion Forum
Hate crime and abuse can be very destructive and the forum's work is designed to educate and inform people of the issues that surround discrimination and how this can lead to tensions within communities.
Members come from a number of partner organisations:
- Caerphilly County Borough Council
- Gwent Police
- Valleys Regional Equality Council (VALREC)
- Crown Prosecution Service
- Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations (GAVO)
- Victim Support Gwent
- Gwent Probation Service
- Citizens' Advice Bureau
- Youth Offending Team
- Aneurin Bevan Health Trust
A hate crime incident can be any offence committed against a person or property because they are seen as being different and anyone can be a hate crime victim because of prejudice against your race, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity.
If you have been the victim of hate crime, suffered racially abusive behaviour, graffiti or language, you have every right to report these incidents and to expect help and support in making sure it doesn't happen again.
Caerphilly County Borough Council works very closely with partners to deal with these incidents. Please contact Gwent Police on 01633 838111 or in writing to Gwent Police Headquarters, Croesyceiliog, Cwmbrân, NP44 2X J to report any such incidents, or you can contact the Valleys Regional Equalities Council (VALREC) for advice and guidance, on 01443 742704 or by emailing info@valrec.org.
You can also contact Safer Wales through their on-line service that enables victims, witnesses or other third parties to report hate incidents by visiting www.saferwales.com. Safer Wales will pass on the full details of the incidents to the Police and other support agencies (with the consent of the reporting person).