Council urged to map racial, ethnic and faith communities

Date article online: 13/05/2008

Rochdale Council has been urged to better map their communities and monitor tensions in a bid to stop any simliar riots to those in neighbouring Oldham in 2001.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears published new guidance encouraging local authorities to work towards more integrated communities. She wants councils to map the racial, ethnic and faith communities in their areas in order to identify potential “tension hotspots” and improve cohesion.

According to the new guidelines early intervention can prevent conflicts which can cause problems relating to integration.

Ms Blear said: “The overwhelming majority of people in this country live successfully side by side but we cannot take this for granted.

“Challenges to cohesion do exist but things can be done to address problems at the earliest opportunity and stop things escalating.

“We have made £50 million available to local authorities to support them in responding to these challenges and placed a much greater focus on integration — including an end to automatic translation and more emphasis on English language learning.”

Councils should make better use of data from police, neighbourhood wardens and community leaders to build up a picture of any problems.

And key players in the community including faith group leaders could help keep watch on tension levels, she added.