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Racial segregation 'growing in UK', Dame Louise Casey warns Segregation 'growing in Britain', Dame Louise Casey warns
(about 1 hour later)
Segregation and social exclusion has reached "worrying levels" and is fuelling inequality in some areas of Britain, a report has found.Segregation and social exclusion has reached "worrying levels" and is fuelling inequality in some areas of Britain, a report has found.
Women in some communities are denied "even their basic rights as British residents", the Casey Review said.Women in some communities are denied "even their basic rights as British residents", the Casey Review said.
Dame Louise Casey accused public bodies of ignoring or condoning divisive or harmful religious practices for fear of being called racist.Dame Louise Casey accused public bodies of ignoring or condoning divisive or harmful religious practices for fear of being called racist.
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said he would study the findings "closely".Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said he would study the findings "closely".
Dame Louise's review into the integration of minorities was commissioned by former prime minister David Cameron as part of the government's efforts to tackle extremism.Dame Louise's review into the integration of minorities was commissioned by former prime minister David Cameron as part of the government's efforts to tackle extremism.
Among her recommendations are that immigrants could take an "integration oath" and schoolchildren be taught British values. Among her recommendations were that immigrants could take an "integration oath" and schoolchildren be taught British values.
Her review said there was a sense that people from different backgrounds got on well together at a general level, but community cohesion "did not feel universally strong across the country".Her review said there was a sense that people from different backgrounds got on well together at a general level, but community cohesion "did not feel universally strong across the country".
She found "high levels of social and economic isolation in some places, and cultural and religious practices in communities that are not only holding some of our citizens back but run contrary to British values and sometimes our laws".She found "high levels of social and economic isolation in some places, and cultural and religious practices in communities that are not only holding some of our citizens back but run contrary to British values and sometimes our laws".
Her report highlighted the plight of women in some Muslim communities, who she said were less likely to speak English and more likely to be kept at home.Her report highlighted the plight of women in some Muslim communities, who she said were less likely to speak English and more likely to be kept at home.
"Misogyny and patriarchy has to come to an end," Dame Louise said. "We must not fear being racist or homophobic." "Misogyny and patriarchy has to come to an end," Dame Louise said, adding that public institutions must not fear being racist or Islamophobic.
But Shaista Gohir, from the Muslim Women's Network, said the accounts in her report should not be used to suggest a national trend.But Shaista Gohir, from the Muslim Women's Network, said the accounts in her report should not be used to suggest a national trend.
Muslim areas under the spotlight - BBC political correspondent Ross HawkinsMuslim areas under the spotlight - BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins
Afraid of being dubbed racist, afraid of losing support, afraid of challenging minority communities - that is Dame Louise Casey's view of Britain's decision-makers.Afraid of being dubbed racist, afraid of losing support, afraid of challenging minority communities - that is Dame Louise Casey's view of Britain's decision-makers.
Criticising politicians and officials is the easy bit. The significance of this report is that it targets individual communities and faiths.Criticising politicians and officials is the easy bit. The significance of this report is that it targets individual communities and faiths.
It contrasts with the language of people living "parallel lives"- a term used in an earlier report and designed to be neutral, placing no more blame on one community than another.It contrasts with the language of people living "parallel lives"- a term used in an earlier report and designed to be neutral, placing no more blame on one community than another.
Dame Louise makes clear her outrage at what she calls "regressive practices" targeting women and girls. She accepts she is putting Muslim areas under the spotlight.Dame Louise makes clear her outrage at what she calls "regressive practices" targeting women and girls. She accepts she is putting Muslim areas under the spotlight.
The question for Dame Louise - an official not immune to criticism herself - is how would she achieve change? What if an elected politician refused to take her oath? What if some people - of whatever community - simply prefer to live and educate their children separately?The question for Dame Louise - an official not immune to criticism herself - is how would she achieve change? What if an elected politician refused to take her oath? What if some people - of whatever community - simply prefer to live and educate their children separately?
Researchers heard Muslim tribunals had made life-changing decisions with no training, leaving women and children often feeling traumatised. During her research, Dame Louise spoke to women in areas of Birmingham and Manchester that she said could not leave their homes without their husband's permission.
Mosques often gave women and girls regressive advice about lifestyle and clothes, Dame Louise added. She blamed those in authority for "ducking the issue" of women's inequality out of a wish to respect different cultures.
She said too few leaders had dealt with issues, suggesting some fear being labelled racist or losing support in minority communities. "If [the women] were white and living in Surrey, we would all be up in arms about it," she said.
Dame Louise spoke to 800 people for her review, including public servants, religious representatives, teachers, pupils and local leaders. She said not talking about these issues would only "give ammunition to the extreme far-right and Islamic extremists", who are the people "who set out to divide us".
She said there were areas which were struggling to cope with the pace and scale of change they faced as a result of immigration, while there were still large social and economic gaps between different ethnic groups. Immigration was another theme in the report, in which she said some towns and cities were "struggling to adjust" to an influx of foreign nationals.
Division between communities had been bad for Britain, leading to poorer social and economic opportunities for some groups, she added. On a visit to Sheffield, she said, she found some schools were coping with an increase in Eastern European children from 150 to nearly 2,500 over a five-year period.
The report also highlighted a "persistent disadvantage" facing black men in the workplace, as well as white working class children on free meals who underperformed at school.
The report made 12 recommendations, including:The report made 12 recommendations, including:
"We need more effort to be put into integration policies to help communities cope with the pace and scale of immigration and population change in recent years," Dame Louise said. Communities secretary Mr Javid said Britain had "long been home to lots of different cultures and communities", but added that "all of us have to be part of one society".
"Nowhere near enough emphasis" had been put on integrating communities, she added.
Mr Javid said Britain had "long been home to lots of different cultures and communities", but added that "all of us have to be part of one society".
While it was right to celebrate the "positive contribution" diverse groups make to British life, nobody should be excluded from it or left behind, he said.While it was right to celebrate the "positive contribution" diverse groups make to British life, nobody should be excluded from it or left behind, he said.
"We need to take a serious look at the facts and must not shy away from the challenges we face."We need to take a serious look at the facts and must not shy away from the challenges we face.
"Dame Louise's report is a valuable contribution, and I will be studying her findings closely.""Dame Louise's report is a valuable contribution, and I will be studying her findings closely."
Are you affected by the issues in this story? Does the report reflect issues where you live? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.Are you affected by the issues in this story? Does the report reflect issues where you live? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.
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