Racial Harassment

Any complaint of racial harassment must be treated as such from the time it is reported. Racial harassment can take many forms and includes but is not limited to:

• abusive, threatening or insulting behaviour including racist verbal abuse
• threats of violence
• physical assault
• racist graffiti
• abusive telephone calls
• Arson and attempted arson
• Vandalism
• repeated and unfounded complaints against a tenant or groups of tenants
• actions or activities intended to deter a person from occupying a particular property
• placing rubbish, excrement or offensive materials near or in the complainant's home

As with harassment that is not racially motivated, offending behaviour should be treated as harassment if it is:

• targeted
• deliberate
• continuing

However, a single incident may be treated as racial harassment if it causes physical or mental harm or distress to the complainant.

Further, the complainant does not have to be the only person to whom the racial harassment or abuse is targeted. People from the same or other ethnic groups, who are in the locality, may be affected by incidents.  We also accept that it is possible for people from one ethnic group to be racially harassed by those from another ethnic group.