The APPG on Hate Crime has launched an enquiry entitled, “How do we build community cohesion when hate crime is on the rise?”. We invite submissions of written evidence on this topic and we will be holding open sessions for further information in due course. The findings will be published in a public report at the end of the year, (2018).

What the APPG Enquiry aims to achieve

The APPG Enquiry aims to gather evidence of how hate speech and hate crime impact on communities, and to provide detailed recommendations on how community cohesion can be strengthened in the face of rising hate crime and hate speech.

The APPG explicitly focuses on all strands of hate crime and hate speech (sex, race, sexual orientation, religion or belief, disability, gender identity), and we are particularly keen on teasing out common themes, as well as potential divergences between the various hate crime strands.

To do this, the APPG invites submissions whilst considering the following questions:

Status Quo – What is the situation today?

• What is the extent of hate crime and speech that is experienced by individuals or communities and what form does it take?
• How does experiencing hate crime and hate speech impact on individuals, communities and their values?
• How does online hate speech and hate crime impact on community cohesion? Is there a link?
• How does hate crime and hate speech contribute to extremism, including intra-community sectarianism?
• How does hate speech and bullying impact children and young people in schools and educational institutions?
• How does hate speech impact on the emotional and mental-health of individuals who are targeted at a street and online level?

Recommendations – What can we do to build community cohesion?

• Best practice: What schemes, initiatives and projects exist to build community cohesion in the face of rising hate crime and hate speech?
• What can national and local government do to increase community cohesion in the face of rising hate crime and hate speech?
• What role do police forces play in increasing community cohesion in the face of rising hate crime and hate speech? Are there practical examples of their work, say after major terrorist attacks when cohesion may be affected?
• What role can community organisations, charities and others play to increase community cohesion in the face of rising hate crime and hate speech?
• Are there projects that help individuals to support their emotional, mental health and practical needs when they are targeted online and offline?

How the APPG will gather evidence

The APPG is interested to hear from experts, practitioners, victims and their representative organisations, as well as academics and others with an interest in and knowledge of the topic.

Submissions should:

• Be no more than 2,500 words in length.
• Clearly state who they are from and whether they are sent in a personal capacity or sent on behalf of an organisation, and include a brief description of the submitting individual/organisation
• Be emailed to info@appghatecrime.org

The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, 15^th August 2018.

Based on the received evidence, individuals and organisations will be invited to give further evidence during an open meeting of the APPG.