Crackdown on hate crime in Inverclyde

In a new report to the local police scrutiny board Chief Constable Jim Downie has highlighted work to make sure that the Afghan and Syrian families feel safe.

Latest figures show that the detection rate for catching perpetrators of hate crime has fallen compared to a year ago.

The report comes at the same time as Councillor Stephen McCabe has called for greater efforts to stamp out racism and hate crime in Inverclyde.

In his report, Ch Insp Downie, tells councillors: "In the last few months we have continued to work closely with Inverclyde Council and other partners to welcome more refugee families from Afghanistan and Syria. Our neighbourhood teams are well known to the families and have assisted in supporting them during their integration into Inverclyde living.

"We continue to offer third party reporting and hate crime inputs to staff in other agencies and to local residents to raise awareness and reassure the public."

The drop in detection rates for hate crime overall is blamed on a rise in recorded vandalism acts of a sectarian nature, which are challenging to detect.

Council Leader Stephen McCabe has put a motion to today's full council meeting urging the council to take a public stand against hate crime.

His motion says: "We are proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society. Racism, xenophobia and hate crimes have no place in our country. Inverclyde Council condemns racism, xenophobia and hate crimes unequivocally. The Council will not allow hate crimes to become acceptable.

"Inverclyde Council will work to ensure local bodies and programmes have support and resources needed to fight and prevent racism and xenophobia.

"We reassure all people living in Inverclyde that they are valued members of our community."

The Tele revealed last week how the council is currently in talks with the Home Office to become a dispersal area for refugees and to take in more Syrian families.