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The Safer Businesses Project was developed as a response to the problems facing businesses owned and managed by members of minority ethnic communities. RAHMAS has found that between 60%-70% of reported racist incidents occur in business premises including convenience stores, restaurants and take-aways.

Projects Aims and Objectives

• Reduce repeat victimisation rate amongst ethnic minority businesses.
• Reduce racist crime and the fear of crime within local businesses.
• Increase contact between agencies and ethnic minority businesses.
• Increase confidence amongst ethnic minority businesses in reporting incidents and seeking assistance of agencies.
• Increase awareness of measures which can reduce risk from crime.

What Has Been Done?

• Consultation questionnaire to over 150 businesses owned by members of minority ethnic communities.
• Five businesses used in Repeat Victimisation pilot.
• Extensive interviews of managers and staff from five businesses revealing personal experiences of racist crimes and the true extent of victimisation.
• Four special mobile CCTV audio/visual kits purchased to help counter racist verbal abuse.
• Pilot of special anti-graffiti surface.
• Staff trained on "Dealing with Aggression" training. Training given to pilot businesses.
• Advice Booklet produced with advice and guidance on security, useful information and contact numbers.

Safer Business Initiative - Business Plan

A full evaluation of the Safer Business pilot project has been carried out, which revealed that the key aims of the project to reduce racist crime and the fear of crime at premises involved, had been achieved. The RAHMAS Executive made the decision to extend the project further and make it available through a set criteria, to the local business community. The first Safer Business for Ethnic Minorities Initiative Business Plan for 2005-2008 has now been developed and can be viewed on this website. The Safer Business Initiative is now a key operational arm of RAHMAS.

Case Conference

RAHMAS procedures for tackling racist attacks and harassment allow for the calling of multi-agency case conferences. The objective of case conferences is for the partner agencies involved to meet with the victim of the racist incident in order to discuss the problem and identify ways of addressing it.

The case conference is normally chaired by Central Scotland Racial Equality Council as an independent body. The range of partners involved in a case conference is dictated by the issues requiring to be addressed, but may include local authority Housing, Social Services, Education, Police and Health Services.

Performance Indicators

Performance Indicators / Measurements play an integral part of RAHMAS and are included within our Action Plan. These have been developed to allow the partnership and the wider community to monitor and evaluate the continued effectiveness of the strategy, as well as assisting any future funding needs.