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- Language and Cultural Support page with racist incident guidance and reporting procedures for schools
Racist Incident Recording
Racist behaviour in the form of racial harassment and violence in the community will not be tolerated. Wiltshire County Council is committed to promoting equality and diversity in our community, and to taking effective action to prevent racist discrimination.
Please report racial harassment
If we don't hear about harassment, we can't do anything about it.
We
want people to feel safe in their homes and on the streets.
We want you to feel confident
that we will listen to you and that action will be taken.
Tell us that you have been a victim of racism, or have witnessed a racist incident. Report every incident to the police or to Wiltshire County Council.
What is racial harassment?
Most forms of racial harassment are criminal offences and should be reported. Racial harassment can include:
- verbal abuse
- nuisance phone calls
- hate mail
- graffiti
- vandalism
- attacks on property
- arson
- any physical assault
- racially motivated bullying.
Who are the victims?
The victims of racism are usually people from visible ethnic minority groups, but it must be remembered that other groups can be affected. These can include travellers, refugees, members of the Jewish community and immigrants from Eastern Europe.
What to do if you are the victim of or witness to a racist incident
- Write down the date and time of the incident
- Write down everything you can remember about what you saw and heard during an incident
- If you are the victim make sure you get the names and addresses of any witnesses
- Record as much detail as possible about the offender and any vehicle they might have used
- Report the incident as soon as you possibly can to the police or Wiltshire County Council.
Racist incidents can be reported to any of Wiltshire County
Council’s offices. You can also use the reporting form (pdf 49Kb) 
, or telephone 01225
713000, where one of our customer care officers will take the details of the incident you want
to report and, if you wish, arrange for someone to call you back.
If you know a victim of racism
Provide as much support and friendship as you can. Reassure them that they are not isolated in this time of need. Encourage them to report the incident.
What will we do when you report a racist incident?
We will try to obtain the victim’s permission to investigate the incident. If the incident is very serious, we will need to involve the police. We will deal with the report confidentially, and information will only be shared with those who need it in order to deal with the incident effectively.
We adopt a range of responses to racist incidents. More information can be viewed by looking at our guidance for staff (insert link here). In addition to trying to resolve incidents for the individuals concerned, we also collect anonymous statistical information about racial incidents which helps us to decide whether there are any patterns that need more work, such as training, partnership work or community development, in order to reduce the occurrence of racist incidents.
Useful addresses and contact numbers
Emergency calls - 999 or 112
Wiltshire Police - Telephone: 01380 722341
Wiltshire County Council - Telephone: 01225 713000
Wiltshire Racial Equality Council - Telephone: 01225 766439
Support Against Racist Incidents
Telephone:
0117 952 5652
Fax 9117 952 5454
E-mail sari@sari.freeserve.co.uk
Victim Support Wiltshire and Swindon - Telephone: 01380 729476
Crimestoppers - Telephone: 0800 555 111
If you have any questions about reporting incidents of harassment, please use contact details below to contact Pam Brookes or Nina Wilton.
Schools
For racist incident guidance for schools and reporting procedures please see our language and cultural support page.
Contact Details
By Post
Corporate Standards Manager
Wiltshire County Council
County
Hall
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14
8JN
By Email
racistincidents@wiltshire.gov.uk
By Telephone
01225 713078 or 01373 859732
By Fax
01225 757572
