Diversity

Diversity is the description of a range of visible and non-visible differences that exist between people. These could be from differences in culture, skills and experiences depending on the gender, age, background, ethnicity, religion, disability, and level of ability or personality.

Harnessing these differences will create a productive environment in which everybody feels valued, where talents are fully utilised and in which goals are met. Managing diversity can help to combat prejudice, discrimination, stereotyping, harassment and unfair behaviour and support people to give their best and to be aware of the effect that their actions can have on others.

 

Commission for Racial Equality

 

Racist Incidents Panel

A racist incident is defined as being "an incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person".

Members of racial groups, defined by their race, colour, nationality (including citizenship), ethnic or national origins, are dispersed throughout Shetland. This dispersal can result in people experiencing social isolation due to a lack of access to other people from similar cultural backgrounds. This social isolation is exacerbated due to the diverse nature of these groups. It is widely recognised in this context that social isolation can result in some groups becoming more vulnerable to racism.

The effects of racist incidents (whether physical attacks or verbal harassment) can be especially frightening and stressful for members of the dispersed minority ethnic communities in Shetland, and racist incidents are on the increase.

Northern Constabulary figures show two reported racist incidents in 2000, going up to 3 incidents in 2001 and 2002, and increasing to 5 incidents in 2003 and 2004.

In Shetland, a Racist Incidents Panel has been established. It is made up of two main groups, a Strategic Group and an Action Group.

The role of the Strategic Group is to:-

•  encourage, oversee and review the uniformity in recording racist incidents by each panel member agency

•  make recommendations to the Police, Council and other agencies to support and enhance strategies for combating racial violence and harassment

•  establish protocols for the sharing of information between partner agencies which would be commensurate with the terms of the Data Protection Act etc

•  identify trends and causal factors in relation to racial violence and harassment, taking into account community impact assessments

•  oversee the relevance, effectiveness and performance of the Action Group and make recommendations for implementation

•  report through the Community Safety Partnership to the Community Planning Board

•  keep abreast of developments in the subject and to facilitate the dissemination of best practice

•  promote public awareness of the problems of racial violence and harassment

The role of the Action Group is to:

•  adopt a Case Conferencing approach to reported incidents with recommendations made to both lead agency(ies) and the Strategic Group

•  facilitate planning & referral to support agencies

•  maintain contact with the victim or the victims' representative throughout and encourage participation of the victim in the process

•  monitor the outcome of any action taken, including legal action

•  put into practice any of the decisions of the Strategic Group if required, and make recommendations to them

When handling racist incidents, it is important to have a robust reporting mechanism. Traditionally, racist incidents are under-reported, however the Panel is working together to make it as easy as possible for victims, friends, relatives or witnesses to report racist incidents, in the confidence that action will result.

The Panel will seek to maximise the number of ways to access reporting mechanisms, for example, through police stations, local authority offices, places of further education, Citizens Advice Bureau, health centres, Victim Support, places of worship, housing/tenant associations and also look at on-line reporting.