The latest results from Norfolk Citizens’ Panel reveal that when it comes to levels of racial prejudice, panellists are more positive about their local area than with the national picture.

More panellists believe that racial prejudice has gone up nationally in the last five years (43%) than those who think it has stayed the same (32%). 

The perceptions on these issues are reversed when panellists are asked to think about Norfolk in particular.  More panellists say that it has remained the same (41%) than say it has gone up (31%).

Younger people aged 16 to 19 are more likely to see a positive change in relation to older people, with 24% of young people saying there is less racial prejudice now, compared to 14% among older people aged 75 years or over.

In terms of the future, 38% of panellists believe that racial prejudice in Norfolk will stay the same in the next five years, slightly more than those who think it will change for the worse (33%).

Only one in eight respondents think that racial prejudice will go down in Britain and in Norfolk (12% each).

Travellers/gypsies (56%), refugees/asylum seekers (51%) and Eastern European migrant workers (50%) are most likely to experience prejudice and discrimination according to Panel members.  Ethnic minorities come fourth (27%), followed by gay, lesbian or bisexual people (19%), older people (13%) and people who are obese or overweight (13%). 

In this respect Norfolk is similar to the national picture, with the only difference being that nationally the two groups are reversed with refugees/asylum seekers being seen as most likely to encounter prejudice and racism.  This probably reflects the fact that there are more travellers/gypsies in rural areas like Norfolk.

Other findings from this research, carried out with members of the Panel in autumn 2007, include:
Thirty seven per cent of panel members had witnessed people behaving differently towards a person because of their ethnic background, 22% had witnessed a person being verbally abused because of their ethnic background and 5% had witnessed a person being physically abused because of their ethnic background.

The public sector organisations who are partners in Norfolk Citizens’ Panel are using the findings as context for their statutory Race Equality Schemes, which were refreshed in March.

Jo Richardson, Equalities and Diversity Officer for Norfolk County Council, one of the Panel partners, said:  "We have a statutory duty to promote race equality, tackle unfair discrimination and promote good relations between different groups.  The Panel findings are helpful in giving us an insight into general perceptions on these issues.

"This is the first time that we have asked these questions in Norfolk so they will give us a good benchmark on which to measure progress and to judge the effectiveness of our race equality schemes.

"We are currently planning some more detailed work with black and minority ethnic residents around their experiences so we will be able to get a better understanding of their needs and aspirations."