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Britain at ease with race diversity says Phillips
Kiran Randhawa19 Jan 2009
THE police should no longer be accused of "institutional racism", the head of Britain's equalities watchdog said today.
On the 10th anniversary of the report into the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence, Trevor Phillips said the term had been hijacked by "guilt-tripping white folks" who refuse to acknowledge that Britain has become "by far the best place in Europe to live if you are not white".
Lord Macpherson's report into the bungled investigation of the 1993 Lawrence killing in Eltham labelled the police "institutionally racist".
But Mr Phillips said the accusation was no longer appropriate and in a speech following up on his remarks today, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission chief said that Britain was now at ease with racial diversity even if problems still remain.
Mr Phillips also highlighted Prince Harry's recently-revealed casual use of the word "Paki" and Prince Charles's use of the nickname "Sooty" for an Asian friend.
He said both terms lacked "basic politeness" but were not racist.
Reader views (10)
"Britain has become "by far the best place in Europe to live if you are not white".
But what about whites? Does the same apply for them?
- Kenneth Didriksen, Bergen, Norway, 21/01/2009 11:04
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Leroy Jones is right. This is one of those things that's so obvious... once someone else points it out!
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx, 21/01/2009 10:00
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Lets be honest here, there is a lot of crime in London that is committed by blacks and blacks make up the majority of prison population yet being a "minority". I do not think there people are being stopped for their colour, but more for their social "classism". The way people act and dress is also reason for being stopped. You dress like a day work worker and i am sure your cgances of being stopped are slim to none, you dress like a rude boy gangster and guess what, you portray a image that is associated with crime. I am black and i do not get stopped as I dress and behave in a normal social manner, the few times I have been stopped I apprecaite the police are simply doing there job and in a few minutes I am on my way. Common sense is key to our social decline as a nation and its high time we raise our standards and are responsible for our own actions.
- Leroy Jones, Acton, UK, 20/01/2009 15:05
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A few years ago a top policeman said 98% of street crime (in London) was done by young black males. Therefore they get stopped more. Whats the problem ?
- Grim Reaper, Hell, 20/01/2009 13:21
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I've forgotten which University did the research, but there was a study into the CCTV footage in the area which showed that although the percentage of black people who were stopped and searched was massively disproportionate to the ethnic mix of the area, in fact after 8pm (when most crimes were committed and most stop-and-search was carried out) there were very few white people on the streets and that as a percentage of the people that were out and about, more white people were stopped and searched than was proportionate.
It's amazing what you can do with statistics. Meanwhile, has Mr. Philips not got anything momentous to say about the new President . . . ?
- Roz, Chamonix, France, 20/01/2009 11:58
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I have never understood why people get so up in arms at being stopped and searched by the Police if they have nothing to hide. I have been randomly stopped for breath testing by Police on two occasions and did not feel in any way singled out or violated as I realised the Police were just doing a job. It's not personal and there's no point getting emotional about it.
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx, 19/01/2009 14:09
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"If I was stopped by the police 3 times a day in an area where there had been knife crime I would be delighted that the police were trying to do something."
I agree, John, but you would be outraged if you were a black person and kept getting stopped for that reason alone.
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 19/01/2009 13:36
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If I was stopped by the police 3 times a day in an area where there had been knife crime I would be delighted that the police were trying to do something.
- John, Dundee, UK, 19/01/2009 12:43
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Phillips is right that people now understand about 'institutional racism' being embedded in organisations, but is absolutely wrong that things are getting better. He is right to draw the link that those who turn a blind eye to racism are also likely to turn a blind eye to discrimination on gender sexuality disability and age as well.
- Dhanraj, Basildon Essex, 19/01/2009 11:58
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Mr Phillips should come to Hackney and talk to the black teenagers who are relentlessly stopped and searched by the police; my neighbour's son has been stopped over 30 times in the last 6 months, including whilst walking home in his school uniform.
- Paul Seacroft, Hackney UK, 19/01/2009 10:56
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