ON the face of it, the figures do sound alarming.

Crown Prosecution Service figures show that 61 people were charged with race-hate crimes last year, compared with 36 in the previous year.

This is a 70 per cent increase for West Mercia, which covers Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire. Crimes include racially-aggravated assault, criminal damage, and people hurling abuse in the street.

But if anyone thinks Worcestershire and the other two counties have suddenly become a hotbed of racism, they are mistaken.

An increase in the number of people charged with racist crimes means that more people have come forward to make official statements, according to Chief Insp Nick Mason, who was recently appointed race and diversity co-ordinator for West Mercia.

"The fact that the increase of people charged with race crimes has risen is not surprising, since we encourage people to come forward," said Chief Insp Mason.

There has always been a degree of silence from people within ethnic minority groups who have been subjected to racist abuse and crimes, he said. But the increased number of people charged with race crimes shows black and Asian people are now beginning to report these incidents, rather than try to ignore them.

Information

Chief Insp Mason said this showed an increase in confidence in the police. But he was not complacent.

"I am still not convinced that ethnic minorities report everything," he said. "That limits our ability to investigate what is reported to us. Anything we do is only as good as the information we are given.

"The detection rates for racially-related crimes in 1998 were 36 per cent, and in 2002 that had risen to 51 per cent. That is set against a national target of 20 per cent."

His position as Race and Diversity Officer for West Mercia Police was created at the beginning of March. Chief Insp Mason is one of the force's senior investigating officers and spent two years investigating race hate crimes in Worcester.

It will be Mr Mason's responsibility to oversee the implementation of the Race Equality Scheme over the next three years.

"It is quite a detailed action plan and there is quite a lot of work to do," said Chief Insp Mason. "We all have to work towards a more inclusive society."

According to the 2001 census figures, the non-white population in Worcestershire stands at around 2.4 per cent. This compares to 0.9 per cent in Herefordshire and 2.6 per cent in Shropshire.

His roles are to co-ordinate and manage how West Mercia Police responds to race and diversity issues, and to work closely with organisations like the Race Equality Council to encourage more reporting of race-related crime. Chief Insp Mason will provide leadership, support, advice and encouragement to staff and officers.

Investigations

He points out that all police officers are trained to carry out investigations, but he will support them wherever he can. He will be particularly involved in the investigation of any serious crime, which is racially-motivated.

The methods of investigation adopted by Chief Insp Mason, along with his team of three, will include - like all crimes - the various processes of gathering evidence and offering support to witnesses.

Encourage

The difference is that his role will able him to co-ordinate the response with other agencies like the Race Equality Council.

He also said that he has a role in trying to encourage more people from ethnic minorities to join the police.

Currently, of the 2,400 police officers in the West Mercia force, just 1.9 per cent are from ethnic minority backgrounds.

"It is important that we have a constabulary which represents its community. We are very much on target to meet the requirements to achieve Government guidelines."

Following the Macpherson Report into the murder of teenager Steven Lawrence, the police throughout the country have tried to address the situation of how better to communicate with black and Asian people.

West Mercia Constabulary as a whole appears to be making a real concerted effort to respond to the needs of ethnic minorities.

They are seeking to establish two independent advisory groups. One will represent the interest of the minority communities and the other is to give advice on the needs the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender population.

Difference

"I want to make a difference to help the ethnic minorities who live in the area, work in the area and visit the area," said Chief Insp Mason.

n Have you any views? Write to the Evening News letters page at: Voice of Worcester, Evening News, Hylton Road, Worcester, WR2 5JX, or e-mail: letters@thisisworcester.co.uk