The Racial Harassment Forum (RHF) is a multi-agency partnership of voluntary organisations, statutory bodies and community groups that works to combat racial and religious harassment in the City of Brighton and Hove. It is an independent body which is currently made up of 180 members. The Forum is led by the elected chair and meets quarterly. It provides an opportunity for organisations to discuss important issues occurring in the city related to racial and religious harassment.

The RHF effectively functions as a voice for those affected by racist and religiously motivated incidents and crimes. Strong community participation and a continuous process of consultation makes the Forum a particular space for genuine and respectful interaction between community members and voluntary and statutory bodies.

In summary the aims of the RHF are:

·         To encourage and improve the reporting and recording of racist and religiously motivated incidents and crimes in the city

·         To provide an effective response and support structure for victims of racist and religiously motivated incidents and their families

·         To increase crime detection and enable delivery of appropriate criminal justice and civil remedies

·         To ensure that statutory bodies develop and embed policy and good practice in tackling racist and religiously motivated incidents

·          To meet legal and government requirements and targets in the reduction and handling of racist and religiously motivated incidents

What is a racist or religiously motivated incident?

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Our next Annual General Meeting will be taking place on June 23rd Wednesday at 5.30- 8pm.  It will be at the Brighthelm Centre http://www.brighthelm.org.uk/.  Food will be available after the meeting.

The Annual General Meeting is a good chance for the public to hear what work the Racial Harassment Forum has been doing over the past year. We give updates on the successes and achievements that the forum and it’s partners have accomplished and also the work that we feel we still need to do in reducing racist and religiously motivated incidents in the city.

There will be a presentation of the yearly statistics and put them in context of how they compare to the previous year.

Elections will be held for the roles of the forum’s Chair and Community Vice Chair.

These positions will be elected from amongst the nominations received by members in advance of the AGM.  At the meeting only voluntary and community members of the RHF can vote for these two posts.  The role of statutory Vice Chair is voted for from nominations by statutory members.  Where there is only one nomination the nominated person will be elected, and when there is more then one nomination, the voting will take place by secret ballot at the meeting.

The Annual General Meeting  will have a question and answer panel for members of the public to raise issues with statutory members of the forum.  There will also be a speech by our Chair Daniel Ibekwe. This meeting is open to all members of the public so come along and join in!