Adult and Community Services
Racist Incidents
Our commitment to residents
We are committed to promoting equal opportunities and celebrating diversity (people's differences) as one of our main Community Priorities. We want to support equal opportunities for all sections of our community and remove all discrimination.
To do this, we need to reduce all types of discrimination to make the lives of everyone in the borough better. As a council, we will not accept any form of racism, as this divides local people and denies equal opportunities to certain parts of our community.
In the Adult and Community Services Department, we are committed to reporting, recording and acting on all racist incidents. We need to respond to racist attacks and racial harassment differently from other complaints, because the attack or harassment has taken place as a result of the persons race or religion and not as a result of something that person has done. Racist attacks and racial harassment are against the law and are usually known as 'racist incidents'.
As managers and staff, we will not accept any resident, service user or member of our staff being harassed because of their ethnic origin, national origin, nationality, race, religion, colour or beliefs. This damages our whole community. We will take action when anyone:
- Uses racist language
- Or is responsible for offensive graffiti or pictures (this includes jokes and comments that may be seen as discriminatory)
- Treats individuals or groups in the community less favourably because they appear to be different
- Or behaves inappropriately in the workplace and community
Reporting a racist incident
You can report an incident to any council Department or our partner agencies (police, Race Equality Council or Victim Support).
We will not give personal details to anyone else unless the victim gives his or her permission. So, where possible, we will encourage the victim to share their information with us.
If you would like advice in reporting a racist incident please read our Council guidance notes.
Racist incident policy
Racist Incident Policy 
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If you find it difficult to understand this policy because English is not your first language, you can ask for a translation.
We can also provide the policy in English and other languages on audio tape, in Braille, in large print or on disk. Please contact the Equalities and Diversity Section at the address shown.
Hate Crime
Hate crimes affect hundreds of people in London every year, however relatively few are reported to the Police. If you have been threatened or hurt because of your race, faith, sexuality, gender, age or disability, or you have seen this happening to someone else, you can now report it 24 hours a day to the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham's new Stop Hate Crime Helpline (0800 138 1625).
