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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jul/16/rise-in-reported-racial-incidents-linked-to-sensationalised-african-gangs-coverage
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| Rise in reported racial incidents linked to sensationalised 'African gangs' coverage | Rise in reported racial incidents linked to sensationalised 'African gangs' coverage |
| (5 months later) | |
| Victoria’s equal opportunity and human rights commissioner has said a resurgence in the number of reports of racially motivated incidents in the state is linked to sensationalised media coverage of an “African gangs crisis”. | Victoria’s equal opportunity and human rights commissioner has said a resurgence in the number of reports of racially motivated incidents in the state is linked to sensationalised media coverage of an “African gangs crisis”. |
| New data released on Monday morning showed the number of race-related inquiries to the commission in the 2017-18 financial year increased by 34% (470 to 630) compared with the previous 12 months, while formal complaints had risen 76% (77 to 136). | New data released on Monday morning showed the number of race-related inquiries to the commission in the 2017-18 financial year increased by 34% (470 to 630) compared with the previous 12 months, while formal complaints had risen 76% (77 to 136). |
| Complaints had been even higher in recent years before declining in the 2016-17 financial year. The commission received 805 race-related inquiries in 2013-14, 850 in 2014-15 and 608 in 2015-16, according to its annual report. | Complaints had been even higher in recent years before declining in the 2016-17 financial year. The commission received 805 race-related inquiries in 2013-14, 850 in 2014-15 and 608 in 2015-16, according to its annual report. |
| 'Nasty, bigoted': Victorian Liberals condemned for gang warning leaflets | |
| The commission said the recent rise in formal complaints was largest (129%) in the first half of 2018, compared with the same period in 2017. It came at the same time as an increase in “inflammatory race-related political statements and reporting in January”, the commission noted, referring to what some media have labelled the “African gangs crisis”. | The commission said the recent rise in formal complaints was largest (129%) in the first half of 2018, compared with the same period in 2017. It came at the same time as an increase in “inflammatory race-related political statements and reporting in January”, the commission noted, referring to what some media have labelled the “African gangs crisis”. |
| “We certainly saw complaints increase after we had a period of that sort of reporting,” Kristen Hilton told Guardian Australia on Monday. | “We certainly saw complaints increase after we had a period of that sort of reporting,” Kristen Hilton told Guardian Australia on Monday. |
| Hilton said comments such as Peter Dutton’s suggestion in January that Victorians were too scared to go out for dinner were damaging because they were “designed to be divisive”. | Hilton said comments such as Peter Dutton’s suggestion in January that Victorians were too scared to go out for dinner were damaging because they were “designed to be divisive”. |
| “I think to say that Victorians are scared to go out for dinner, or there’s a perceived lawlessness in Victorian society because of the African community, is not only wildly inaccurate, it’s very dangerous,” she said. | “I think to say that Victorians are scared to go out for dinner, or there’s a perceived lawlessness in Victorian society because of the African community, is not only wildly inaccurate, it’s very dangerous,” she said. |
| “What we heard, on the back of that sort of commentary, people in the African community called us on our inquiry line, they talked to us about being afraid to take public transport, we heard people who were spat on waiting for buses or other forms of public transport. | “What we heard, on the back of that sort of commentary, people in the African community called us on our inquiry line, they talked to us about being afraid to take public transport, we heard people who were spat on waiting for buses or other forms of public transport. |
| “Just recently we’ve had a number of African mothers, very distressed about the types of comments their kids had been subjected to at school. | “Just recently we’ve had a number of African mothers, very distressed about the types of comments their kids had been subjected to at school. |
| “But those kids [don’t necessarily want] to make formal complaints because they’re embarrassed or they feel like they’ll be targets of further offensive behaviour.” | “But those kids [don’t necessarily want] to make formal complaints because they’re embarrassed or they feel like they’ll be targets of further offensive behaviour.” |
| In one phone call to the inquiries line, an African-Australian employee was repeatedly asked by their boss in front of his colleagues about the Apex gang. The person said they lost shifts when they complained. | In one phone call to the inquiries line, an African-Australian employee was repeatedly asked by their boss in front of his colleagues about the Apex gang. The person said they lost shifts when they complained. |
| In a formal complaint case, a person of Sudanese descent alleged his adult neighbour and their children had called his family “dirty pigs, animals and stupid”. The complaint was resolved through mediation. | In a formal complaint case, a person of Sudanese descent alleged his adult neighbour and their children had called his family “dirty pigs, animals and stupid”. The complaint was resolved through mediation. |
| Channel Seven accused of fear-mongering over 'African gangs' story | |
| Hilton’s intervention comes days after the Victorian Liberal opposition was criticised last week for distributing flyers that warned of “gangs hunting in packs”. | Hilton’s intervention comes days after the Victorian Liberal opposition was criticised last week for distributing flyers that warned of “gangs hunting in packs”. |
| That followed a Channel Seven story that claimed Melbourne was in the grips of a gangs crisis. Members of Melbourne’s African-Australian community are set to protest outside Channel Seven on Friday. | That followed a Channel Seven story that claimed Melbourne was in the grips of a gangs crisis. Members of Melbourne’s African-Australian community are set to protest outside Channel Seven on Friday. |
| Victoria police has disputed suggestions of a gangs crisis as “rubbish”, while statistics from the state’s Crime Statistics Agency show overall crime is down about 9% over the past 12 months. | Victoria police has disputed suggestions of a gangs crisis as “rubbish”, while statistics from the state’s Crime Statistics Agency show overall crime is down about 9% over the past 12 months. |
| Regardless, Hilton said the focus on the ethnicity of offenders was counter-productive. | Regardless, Hilton said the focus on the ethnicity of offenders was counter-productive. |
| “What the community tells us is that sort of reporting and comments from some leaders within the community, where they’re making the causal connection between race and crime, codes the African community in a way in which they are identified as dangerous,” she said. | “What the community tells us is that sort of reporting and comments from some leaders within the community, where they’re making the causal connection between race and crime, codes the African community in a way in which they are identified as dangerous,” she said. |
| “Really, we’re talking about a group of young offenders within some parts of the African community who have been involved in offences and criminal conduct. But the way that it has been sensationalised and reported on is causing a ripple effect for the rest of the African community. | “Really, we’re talking about a group of young offenders within some parts of the African community who have been involved in offences and criminal conduct. But the way that it has been sensationalised and reported on is causing a ripple effect for the rest of the African community. |
| “These young offenders don’t only have race in common, they also have housing issues, unemployment, they have struggles with schools, they have deep, often intergenerational scars as a result of their refugee journey.” | “These young offenders don’t only have race in common, they also have housing issues, unemployment, they have struggles with schools, they have deep, often intergenerational scars as a result of their refugee journey.” |
| Most people who called with a race-related inquiry did not follow through and make a formal complaint, the data showed. Formal complainants must be able to formally identify the person who discriminated against them. Most of the formal complaints related to employment (50%) and the provision of goods and services (38%). | Most people who called with a race-related inquiry did not follow through and make a formal complaint, the data showed. Formal complainants must be able to formally identify the person who discriminated against them. Most of the formal complaints related to employment (50%) and the provision of goods and services (38%). |
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