Hardyal Dhindsa PCC backs the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Derbyshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Hardyal Dhindsa today offered his full support to an international campaign against racial discrimination.
The Commissioner, who is the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ (APCC) deputy national lead on Workforce & Equalities, Diversity and Human Rights, reiterated his commitment to tackling hate crime and all forms of prejudice on International Day for the Elimination of Racial Hatred.
The campaign, held annually on March 21, is run by the United Nations and offers an opportunity for men and women across the world to renew their promise to reject racial discrimination and build a society of justice, equality, dignity and tolerance.
Across the globe, events are being held to promote themes of acceptance and inclusion in an increasingly diverse society. This year’s theme encourages nations to challenge all forms of racial discrimination including “racial and ethnic profiling” used by law enforcement agencies, security and border control agencies to carry out identity checks and searches on individuals – particularly migrants and refugees – based on their ethnicity.
Mr Dhindsa, whose portfolio area includes hate crime and police stop and search powers, said: “I offer my full commitment to the United Nations on its International Day for the Elimination of Racial Hatred. Discrimination of any kind has no place in society and if we are to build communities which embrace difference and celebrate uniqueness then all of us must stand united against racial hatred.
“There is a lot of work going on across the UK and beyond to fight the bigoted attitudes that divide humanity and undermine the positivity that can flourish from working as one. There is a need to share best practice and learn from one another to identify opportunities for greater integration and help to build stronger, happier communities.
“We must also exhaust opportunities to work with young people through educational projects that promote a message of acceptance and appreciation of difference.”
The Commissioner is determined to tackle all forms of discrimination and has prioritised hate crime in his Police and Crime Plan.
Alongside his work to tackle racial inequality, he is supporting the work of the Sophie Lancaster Foundation (set up in the wake of the death of Sophie in 2007) to create respect for and understanding of subcultures in the community. Last year, Derbyshire Constabulary announced it would recognise, record and monitor alternative subculture as the sixth monitored strand of hate crime motivation.