LAMBETH BOROUGH COMMANDERS COMMENDATION

Following an Adjudication Panel to consider the Quality of Service Reports submitted
for the Borough Commander's Commendation, The Forum's commitee are pleased to inform that Myriam Hay has been awarded a Lambeth Borough Commander's Commendation.

The Panel learnt that Myriam has volunteered for the Borough since 2008 in a Spanish Community Liaison role and she is a very dedicated and hardworking volunteer who has done much to help the Spanish speaking community. On a regular basis spanish speakers can call and ask for police information, advice in their native tongue.
This service has worked very well and without the commitment of you it would not be possible.

The Panel appreciated the fact that without her efforts we would not understand this large and influential minority group on the Borough.
Myriam has been given this award for her exceptional level of commitment and dedication and she is an excellent ambassador for Lambeth Borough Police.
On behalf of the Panel, I would like to take this opportunity to say well done and congratulations on her award.

HATE CRIME- THIRD PARTY REPORT

O distrito de Lambeth, procura em parceria com as comunidades de linguas portuguesa e espanhola, identificar situações que possam ser passíveis de denuncia em diversos patamares de onde ressalta o crime de "ódio".
O crime de ódio, é definido como qualquer tipo de incidente que possa ser conotado com o preconceito sob as suas mais diversas formas.

Identificam-se quatro tipos de crime de ódio; raça, credo, deficiência ou homofóbico. Dentro deste leque, desdobram-se as situações em que possam acontecer ataques físicos, intimidação, comportamentos ameaçadores, cartas ofensivas, abuso verbal e "bullyng" na escola ou no emprego.
As autoridades informam que o crime de "ódio" pode ter um efeito desvastador sobre a vítima, na sua qualidade de vida. Ao mesmo tempo, o alastramento deste crime, pode levar comunidades inteiras a viver sob a pressão do medo. Atentos ao aumento deste crime em Londres ainda que pouco denunciado, as autoridades apelam para a denuncia mesmo que possam parecer apenas pequenos indícios.

A hora e o local em que o crime acontece, podem constituir dados interessantes para as autoridades poderem cruzar informações com outros relatos e poderem assim ajudar a prevenir novos episódios.
Através destas denuncias, as autoridades podem monitorizar a situações, criar padrões de comportamento e identificar áreas de atuação obtendo uma melhor compreensão deste género de crime público.

As autoridades de Lambet, pretendem através desta cooperação com os cidadãos criar ferramentas para que Lambeth seja um lugar mais seguro para viver.
As autoridades afirmam que a identidade do denunciante será mantida secreta a menos que haja crianças em risco. "As informações não serão compartilhadas com a Polícia sem pedir permissão primeiro" afirma o comunicado.

As denuncias em português poderão ser feitas através do Mobile:07505 901 585e as informações serão encaminhadas para o Coordenador Hate Crime Lambeth que irá monitorizar a informação e encaminhar para as autoridades competentes.

London's Latin Americans 'face exploitation at work'

More than 40% of Latin Americans in London face "discrimination and work place abuse", a report has claimed.

The study commissioned by the charities Latin American Women's Rights Service and Trust for London found that 85% of the 113,500-strong community had jobs.

But it said half of these workers were stuck in low-skilled jobs and 11% were illegally paid below the minimum wage.

The study by Queen Mary, University of London, said the needs of the community were being "ignored".

The report - No Longer Invisible - said the community was comparable in size to the Polish community in London and had grown four-fold since 2001.

Researchers spoke to focus groups and 1,000 people in the city who have roots in 20 Latin American countries.

The study found that more than half of the population were employed in low-skilled jobs such as cleaning, catering and hospitality, although they had qualifications
in teaching, accountancy, engineering and social work.
More than four out of 10 workers said they faced "workplace abuse and exploitation".

Their take-up of public services and state benefits was also low, with one in five saying they had never seen a GP and only 20% saying they had received some form of state welfare benefit.

Almost 70% felt "discrimination to be a major barrier to improving their quality of life".

'Poverty and hardship'

Cindy Sanchez, 22, who came to London from Colombia, said her parents found it hard to integrate. The singer told the study she feels "different" at auditions.

Pedro Quispe who owned a leather business in Bolivia said he found work as a cleaner since coming to London five years ago.

Tania Bronstein, chairwoman of Latin American Women's Rights Service, said: "It is important we are counted, especially by government agencies, so that our contribution and needs are not ignored.

"It is only when we are visible that issues uncovered by this research, such as the low rate of registrations with GPs and dentists by Latin Americans, are identified and can be addressed.

Bharat Mehta, chief executive of Trust for London, said: "Although most of the capital's Latin American community are working hard, many are facing high levels of exploitation and abuse and as a result experiencing significant poverty and hardship.

"We are particularly concerned that such a large number of Latin American workers are being illegally paid below the National Minimum Wage. At 10 times the UK rate there is an urgent need for the government to enforce the law."

Publish post by Myriam Aguilar Hay

"OPERATION HANNAH" Extra Police for Lambeth's Streets

Crime is residents’ number one concern and Police reorganisation strategy, known as Operation Hannah, will go live from Monday February 14th. Over 100 extra police officers will be assigned to six areas, covering the whole borough, that will increase visible policing, get more officers on the beat and provide an even greater focus on local issues such as anti-social behaviour.


Cllr Rachel Heywood Lambeth cabinet member for Communities and Community Safety said “Operation Hannah will go a long way to help the fight against anti social behaviour in Lambeth and significantly enhance local neighbourhood policing at a time when police number are being cut across the rest of the UK. Ensuring safer communities in Lambeth is a key priority for Labour administration and the additional police constables will provide a visible presence and safety net as well as helping reassure residents across the borough.’


Under operation Hannah all 21 wards in Lambeth will be partnered with others to make 6 clusters, called Local Policing Teams, with each cluster receiving at least an additional 14 police constables. The LPTs will also be working alongside, boosting the Safer Neighbourhood Teams, who will remain committed to tackling crime in their wards

ANUAL GENERAL MEETING

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
=====================

We have the pleasure of inviting you to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Portuguese/
Spanish speaking community Safety Forum,which will be held on :

Saturday, 26th February at 15.00 hrs

At the premises of Stockwell Community Resource Centre, 1 Studley Road London SW4 6RA.
The General Meeting will be opened by the Chair Myriam Aguilar Hay. Printed copies of the
annual report and the annual accounts are available upon request prior to the Meeting.
Please write to : Portuguese.spanish@yahoo.co.uk or phone : 079 18 17 66 80.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

!! HAPPY NEW YEAR !!