Keeping the peace

To passers-by, the new security cameras at one east-London school are nothing more than a usual reaction to the petty crime commonplace in inner cities. But, in fact, the increased security this week at the 135-place Muslim school in Waltham Forest is part of the council's response to fears that tension over the possibility of war in Iraq could fester into violence on British streets.

"People are worried that if there is an attack on Iraq, it could affect community relations, so we decided on the cameras," says Jim Wintour, Waltham Forest's head of housing. "I do think there is a real potential threat to race relations."

The reports issued in the wake of the race riots of summer 2001 brought home to councils the importance of strong local leadership and tenant involvement in maintaining harmony. Taskforces were set up and community groups were formed. But with international tension running so high, the need for landlords to listen to their tenants on race and safety issues has never been more pressing. The 2001 census results, published last week, showed that the minority ethnic population has risen from 6% to 9% in the past decade. There are now more than 1.5 million Muslims in England and Wales and around 260,000 Jewish people.

Social housing providers have a key part to play in maintaining community relations, Wintour says: "Social cohesion is a landlord issue. Landlords are pivotal to maintaining harmony at a neighbourhood level, especially during this time of political unrest."

As the Right Reverend David Walker, Bishop of Dudley and a member of the government policy action team on housing management, explains: "It's important for housing associations to ensure they have a good level of contact with faith groups – those lines of communication have to be on so that if tensions are getting high, it can be picked up sooner rather than later. When tensions are rising internationally, it's important we don't play down the impact of that on our communities."

The Commission for Racial Equality urges councils and housing associations to take a proactive approach and reassess their policies in the light of the potential war.

A spokeswoman says: "Councils are well placed to build up networks with communities and they should be developing their links with people like youth workers, neighbourhood wardens and religious leaders. They need to support vulnerable people and have systems in place where they can collate information on racial incidents."

The £4000 cameras in Waltham Forest are just one part of a three-pronged drive to reassure residents that they are safe and that their concerns are being heard. There is also a "faith forum" comprising 25 representatives from the Muslim, Jewish, Sikh and Hindu communities who meet once a month to discuss local concerns. It is important to involve the Jewish community, as that population is likely to be every bit as intimidated and concerned as people of other minority groups.

The third element is a team of volunteers who have offered to stand outside places of worship that may be targeted by racists, to show support for those entering the buildings. "This is about giving moral support to people going into these places," explains Wintour. "They would not be there instead of the police, but in addition."

On the other side of London, another authority is also alert to the impact war might have on race relations. Brent is one of the two British boroughs where white people are in the minority, and a third of its 60 councillors are from minority ethnic backgrounds.

We need to be aware of things such as an increase in racist graffiti, and track when and where it takes place 

Martin Cheeseman, Brent council

Director of housing Martin Cheeseman warns that social landlords must be aware of shifting local attitudes. Noticing whether graffiti takes on racist overtones, for example, is a simple but important step. "We all need to be aware of things such as an increase in racist graffiti, religious tensions and race-related antisocial behaviour and actually track when these things start and where they are taking place, so that any increase in racial intolerance can be monitored and dealt with," he says.

The Northern councils that suffered race riots two years ago are realising that policies they put in place after the disturbances now have even more significance. Local housing associations are also concerned. Anil Singh, chief executive of Bradford-based Manningham Housing Association, says: "As the talk of war comes nearer, I am fearful for my tenants and the community. At this moment we have not had any racial backlash, but I think as soon as a war is announced there may be problems." Three-quarters of Manningham's 800 tenants are from minority backgrounds, compared with a third of the city's 300,000-strong population.

Singh is focusing on younger residents in the hope that this will help them feel less disenfranchised. "It's in the age groups of the 15- to 17-year-olds where clashes are more likely to take place. We have to involve tenants in activities and use imaginative ways of engaging with them." Manningham has a yearly budget of £25,000 set aside for community initiatives. It gives up to £100 a year to a local cricket club in which half of the 22 players are Asian and the other half white, runs trips and street parties and operates up to 20 playschemes every year.

Paul Winstone, a policy officer at neighbouring Leicester – which has a Muslim population of 41,000 – agrees that it is essential to involve younger people. "We all have to be vigilant and work with young people to make sure that Islamophobia doesn't develop," he says. But he also warns landlords to be aware that ethnic communities are not a homogenous mass – there may be rivalry between different religious groups. "In Leicester , youngsters feel they have an allegiance to their own racial backgrounds – but they have to be aware that this kind of thing is dangerous and racial intolerance will not be tolerated."

To tackle such issues, Leicester is using £40,000 from the neighbourhood renewal fund and £145,000 from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's community fund to develop a range of youth projects. Its Youth Voice organisation, for example, holds regular meetings where around 100 of the city's young people can air their concerns.

Ted Cantle, head of the Community Cohesion Panel, urges all landlords to liaise with other organisations, such as the police, and says: "We need to make sure that any groups and forums that are established are truly representative of the whole community and include men and women of all ages and backgrounds."

Lord Toby Harris, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority, adds: "Good practice involves talking and listening to all the different communities in an area. That element of reassurance is critical.

"Local councillors and front-line staff must be genuine representatives of their tenants. Neighbourhood management is vital."

Whether or not Britain takes part in a conflict with Iraq, housing providers should already be thinking about the influence they could bear on the state of community relations – not only in the event of war, but in the uncertain days before a decision is made in whatever direction.