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Racism 'still exists' in police Racism 'still exists' in police
(1 day later)
Racist discrimination still exists in the UK police - 10 years after a report criticised the investigation into a black teenager's death, MPs have said. Racial discrimination still exists in the police, 10 years after a report described Britain's biggest force as institutionally racist, MPs have said.
Stephen Lawrence's stabbing in London led an inquiry to call the Metropolitan Police "institutionally racist". While there has been some progress, black people are still more likely to be stopped and searched, according to the Home Affairs committee.
Police forces have made "tremendous strides" to hit 67 of 70 targets but failed to employ 7% of officers from ethnic minorities, a committee said. Chairman Keith Vaz warned of damage to community relations.
Black people remain more likely to be stopped and searched, it added. But the Association of Chief Police Officers said forces had "worked hard" to counter accusations of racism.
A disproportionate number of black and Asian people also have their profiles held on the national DNA database and this trend had increased since 1999, the Commons home affairs committee report said. The committee looked at recommendations made by Sir William MacPherson following his 1999 inquiry into a Metropolitan police investigation of the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence.
Chairman Keith Vaz said: "While there is such blatantly disproportionate representation of particularly black people in the criminal justice system... there will continue to be damage to community relations which in turn undermine police work."
We are particularly concerned at the discrimination which apparently persists within the force Keith Vaz MPWe are particularly concerned at the discrimination which apparently persists within the force Keith Vaz MP
Stephen Lawrence was stabbed to death during an unprovoked racist assault in Eltham, south-east London, in April 1993. Sir William's conclusion that the force was "institutionally racist" led to 70 recommendations to counter discrimination within the police service.
No-one has ever been convicted of his killing. MPs said while forces had met 67 out of the 70 anti-discrimination targets, they still failed to employ 7% of officers from ethnic minorities - roughly in proportion to the composition of the UK's population.
Almost six years later, a judicial inquiry led by Sir William Macpherson found the police investigation into Stephen's murder "marred by a combination of professional incompetence, institutional racism and a failure of leadership by senior officers". Mr Vaz said evidence suggested officers from these communities struggled to attain promotion and were more likely to be subject to disciplinary action.
Ten years on, the committee said, 67 of the inquiry's recommendations had been implemented - at least in part. "We are also particularly concerned at the discrimination which apparently persists within the force, in recruitment and promotion of black and minority ethnic officers," he added.
Mr Vaz praised the work of the police to tackle these failings.
However, the target to recruit 7% of officers from ethnic minorities - roughly in proportion to the compostion of the UK's population - was among those still outstanding.
Mr Vaz added that evidence suggested officers from these communities struggled to attain promotion and were more likely to be subject to disciplinary action.
"We are also particularly concerned at the discrimination which apparently persists within the force, in recruitment and promotion of black and minority ethnic officers," he said.
"The police service must now focus its efforts on tackling these issues within its own workforce.""The police service must now focus its efforts on tackling these issues within its own workforce."
Police undermined
The report concluded a disproportionate number of black and Asian people also had their profiles held on the police DNA database.
Mr Vaz said: "While there is such blatantly disproportionate representation of particularly black people in the criminal justice system... there will continue to be damage to community relations which in turn undermines police work."
Keith Bristow, of Acpo, told the BBC that attitudes within the police reflected those of wider society, where "of course there are some people that have racist views, the same as there are some people who have views about women".
"But I'd say as a service we have worked as hard if not harder than anyone else to make sure that we have the most balanced, fair and ethical workforce possible."