Campaigners said that at least 35 murders with a racial element had been committed in England, Wales and Scotland between 1999 and 2003, compared with just 13 in the four years 1994-1998.
Source: Racially Motivated Murders (Known or Suspected) Since 1991, Institute of Race Relations (020 7837 0041)
Links: Report | IRR press release
Date: 2003-Dec
A report reviewed the development of community-based racial harassment support projects (in England and Wales) and considered how casework-led interventions responded to the needs of victims. It found that the projects were unevenly spread across the country, and subject to regular funding crises.
Source: Kusminder Chahal, Racist Harassment Support Projects: Their role, impact and potential, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Links: Report (pdf) | JRF Findings 763 | JRF press release
Date: 2003-Jul
Following consultation, the Crown Prosecution Service published a policy statement on the prosecution of those committing racist or religious crimes.
Source: Racist and Religious Crime: CPS prosecution policy, Crown Prosecution Service (020 7796 8442)
Links: Policy statement (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | CPS press release
Date: 2003-Jul
The number of defendants dealt with by the Crown Prosecution Service for racially motivated crimes rose by 20 per cent in 2001-02. This followed a 28.5 per cent increase in the previous year.
Source: Racist Incident Monitoring Scheme: Annual Report 2001 2002, Crown Prosecution Service (020 7796 8000)
Links: Report (pdf) | CPS press release | CRE statement
Date: 2003-Mar
The Crown Prosecution Service began consultation on how it could improve the way it handled racially and religiously aggravated crime. This followed a reported increase in the number of racist incidents in England and Wales from 11,878 in 1994-95 to 47,814 in 1999-2000. The Commission for Racial Equality said the size of the increase was related to improved police methods, and more public confidence in reporting these crimes: but that nonetheless 'race hate crime is a terrible social problem that is not going away'.
Source: Press release 6 February 2003, Crown Prosecution Service (020 7796 8000) | The Independent, 4 February 2003 | Statement by Commission for Racial Equality, 6 February 2003 (020 7939 0000)
Links: Independent article | CRE statement
Date: 2003-Feb