HC Deb 11 February 2000 vol 344 cc320-1W
Mr. Woodward

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what initiatives are in place in Oxfordshire for(a) support for victims and (b) prevention of racial harassment and violence. [109124]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

[holding answer 9 February 2000]: Comprehensive information on these subjects is not readily available. However, the National Association of Victim Support Schemes (NAVSS) is represented in Oxfordshire by a county scheme, providing voluntary support for victims of crime. The scheme is administered at local level within the county with branch offices at Banbury, Oxford and Didcot/Wallingford. Home Office funding has recently been approved for Victim Support to develop a witness support service at magistrates courts in the country.

Local police initiatives in Oxford with the lesbian and gay community have raised reporting levels of homophobic and 'hate-crimes' with the establishment of informal community support networks for victims.

As regards tackling racial harassment and violence, all police areas in the county now have dedicated Community and Race Relations officer to work closely with external bodies and communities. The Oxford Multi-Agency Approach to Racial Harassment has existed in Oxford for over 10 years at a senior officer and caseworker level, acting as a third-party and referral agency for victims of racial harassment and violence. Through local private support and Single Regeneration Budget funding, this group has been expanded to become Agencies Acting Together, Tackling Racial Harassment in Oxfordshire.

Later this month, Oxfordshire Race Equality Council will be organising a conference entitled 'Stephen Lawrence—One Year On' which will bring together leaders from Police, Education, Health, Courts, the Crown Prosecution Service and voluntary organisations, and will draw up a set of specific actions to be achieved within the next 12 months. The focus will be on the 70 recommendations of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, and will culminate in the public signing of a joint declaration to fight racism in Oxfordshire.