After May 2004, many accession state workers, mainly from Poland, came to Crewe to fill low paid vacancies in packing, distribution and food processing. There are now an estimated 3,000, making them the largest local minority in a town of 60,000 people.
When migrant workers first arrived, the Salvation Army, the Council and local police picked up concerns around exploitation and poverty. Local residents complained about perceived anti-social behaviour from newcomers living in crowded houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) such as noise, rubbish collection and shift patterns requiring early starts that were disruptive for neighbours.
More serious complaints had been made about students who had previously occupied the properties, but the Council was concerned about community tension. When in September 2005, 90 children joined their parents and asked for places in local schools, myths circulating locally blamed this for concurrent plans for school closures and reorganisation.
Coordinating an early response
Senior council officers and members responded rapidly, to help workers and prevent tensions from escalating. They called an open meeting with other public agencies to share information, identify needs and separate rumours from fact. Links were established with recruitment agencies, to ensure advance intelligence about future arrivals.
Issues were identified around cohesion, translation support and access to services. Staff in community development took lead responsibility, with issues mainstreamed as appropriate.
To establish links with the new community and provide advice and information, the Council found a Polish newcomer to help with translation and interpretation on a voluntary and, later, part-time employed basis. This included offering schools emergency interpretation for pupils and families, and translating advice and information leaflets.
Mediation is used to resolve neighbour tensions. Community wardens speak to new arrivals about refuse collection if complaints are made. The Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership identifies potential flashpoints, so when England played Poland at football, CCTV was installed in relevant pubs and funding was found for interpreters in the local accident and emergency department.
Longer-term strategy – setting up a community group and building links
Support from council members comes through a new cross-party working group. Action is taken to tackle rumours and myths that arise. One rumour about migrants moving straight into council housing was addressed by talking to community groups and local staff. The Council has set up a new Polish Association with new arrivals, helped by a successful bid for a three-year Invest to Save grant of £316,000.
The Association aims to encourage self-help, reduce reliance on others and aid integration. Work includes improving access to services, signposting information and providing a translation service. Tailored English classes are provided. Three weekly drop-in sessions are offered in the association building. The building is shared with other local groups to promote interaction. Eventually the organisation will apply for its own funding and manage issues for individuals of all nationalities.
In schools, Polish volunteers help with interpretation and translation, and introduction packs have been created for new children and parents. The Council and Association hold discussion sessions: up to 50 people attend. Topics including employment rights, education and childcare are then written up in newsletters which are given to employers and the Citizens' Advice Bureau to distribute.
The police have had to build trust within the community. A part-time interpreter has been employed and a hate crime answer machine has been set up, to encourage more crime reporting. Concern over training for commercial heavy goods vehicle drivers prompted police to offer local depots sessions on English driving regulations. The force has invested in 15 hand-held speech devices to improve immediate communication.
The Council and police now have links with publicans, employers and local employment agencies. These links give advance intelligence of change, and alongside a database of members of the Polish association and information from school records, the Primary Care Trust and HM Revenue and Customs, help inform estimates of numbers and profiles.
Employment agency activity is monitored so that any concerns can be quickly raised with the agencies and if necessary reported to relevant regulars. Council officers visit agencies to investigate any concerns and provide them with translated information, demonstrating the support available and awareness the Council has around exploited workers.
For example, officers asked the agency to inform their clients about an employment rights focus group. The Council now meets with agencies twice a year on a formal basis to obtain intelligence about the workforce and pass on any information that may be useful for the agencies to learn about.