A new interactive website allows students to report complaints of racial harassment anonymously on a simple, on line form. If it works well in Canterbury, it is hoped the website – www.report-it.org.nz – may go nationwide.

It is the second phase of a ‘Safer Students’ campaign launched earlier this year by Canterbury District Police in partnership with the Christchurch City Council, University of Canterbury, Lincoln University, CPIT, Human Rights Commission, and Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu.

The first part of the campaign was highly visible posters depicting students of various nationalities carrying out a hongi with the word ‘welcome’ in various languages.

A poster advertising the website.

Research consequently carried out using computer touch-screens at Christchurch University and CPIT showed that while 86 percent of international students said they felt safe in Christchurch, half said they had experienced harassment because of their ethnicity. The survey also showed that the main barrier to not reporting harassment was not knowing how and who to tell. There were also few accurate statistics available to any of the partner agencies indicating how big or if there was a racial problem.

“Racial harassment is not coded as such by police so any reported incidents are not easily identified as racially related,” says Canterbury District Police Community Relations Sergeant, John Baines.

“Incidents reported on this website will allow us to ascertain ‘where, when and if’ incidents are occurring. It also allows students to work with us in an approachable manner,” he says.

Canterbury Police Asian Liaison officer Liying Cai says the most satisfying aspect to the campaign is the collaboration by partner agencies, with a common goal to make Canterbury a safer place for international students. It was one of the first things she began in her new role, as she heard the common talk of abuse and harassment among international students.

There is no obligation on the website to give one’s name unless follow up is expected. On average two reports a week – mostly historical – are entered on the new site. Once students become more aware of the site it’s hoped it will be a useful tool for them. The website will be assessed in six months.

“Students didn’t know how and when to report and seek help when encountering racial harassment,” says Liying. “We hope the ‘Safer Students’ campaign will make students feel welcome in Christchurch and give them the confidence to report harassment if it occurs.”

The user-friendly website uses simple language making it easier for students to understand. There are also introductory messages from the Canterbury District Commander, Superintendent Dave Cliff, and Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker emphasising to students that harassment is not tolerated in Christchurch.

At the moment the offence code reports only offences and police are unable to differentiate non-racial from racial events.