The rural county of Suffolk in the east of England is commonly viewed as a desirable place to live. It also has a comparatively small minority ethnic population, with the proportion of ethnic minorities constituting approximately 3 percent of the population. The Suffolk County Council's Racial Harassment Initiative (RHI), which is part of the Community Safety Unit, is a program through which victims of racial harassment are offered support and advice. Between 1997 and 1998, the year preceding the development of the RHI, there were 74 racial incidents reported to the police in Suffolk. By 2001-2, this number had increased to 303, perhaps reflecting the readiness of victims to report incidents. The RHI has focused on support and care for victims who contact the program or who have been referred by various agencies, mainly the police. Once an incident has been reported to the RHI, a letter is sent to the victim within 24 hours of the notification, outlining the support role the program offers. A telephone call follows within 48 hours, offering to visit the victim to further discuss any needs and how they might be met. A range of solutions is offered, including mediation in the case of ongoing disputes between neighbors, counseling, and legal assistance. The RHI uses education and prevention measures to counter attitudes and behaviors that underlie and perpetuate racial harassment. An important feature of the program has been the clear delineation of roles and responsibilities as a prerequisite for effective multi-agency working. 16 notes and 16 references