Staffordshire Moorlands District Council

STAFFORDSHIRE Moorlands District Council and PARINS have signed an agreement to work together to report and counter any incidents of racial harassment, through partnership working.

PARINS - Partnership Approach to Racial Incidents in North Staffordshire- is a multi-agency partnership which originated from work by North Staffordshire Racial Equality Council and Stoke-on-Trent Citizens' Advice Bureau amongst local ethnic minority communities.

Its aim, is to develop a partnership approach that will develop community confidence to report racist incidents, so that we can reduce racist incidents and improve community relations.

Following discussions with Staffordshire Police, a partnership involving statutory and voluntary groups was initiated at the end of 1997. The establishment of PARINS has led to a greater awareness of the issues of racial harassment, and to service providers tackling racial harassment.

Speaking out: left - Tas Hussain, PARINS case Worker - SMDC Leader Cllr. Sybil Ralphs - Mark Trillo, Corporate Director - Angela Glendenning, Chair of PARINS- Mark Forrester, Head of Communities SMDC.

After a reorganisation in February 2009, following the closure of the North Staffordshire Racial Equality Council, the PARINS team of part-time Project Officer, Case Worker and part-time Administrator, all work together at Stoke-on-Trent Citizens' Advice Bureau.

Leader of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council Cllr. Sybil Ralphs said 'We want to reiterate our absolute commitment, both to this valuable partnership and to the elimination of racial harassment.  But we can't help if we don't hear about it.  We urge anyone who suffers racial harassment in any form to speak out and contact the Council, or PARINS direct on 01782 407947'.