U.N. 'deeply concerned' over British racism

GENEVA -- Ethnic minorities living in the UK are feeling increasingly vulnerable to racist attacks and harassment, a United Nations committee investigating the country's record on racism has concluded.

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination said "institutional racism" within the police and other public bodies had resulted in "serious shortcomings with regard to investigations into racist incidents."

The 18-member panel was considering a report by the British Government on how it is fulfilling its commitments under a global anti-racism treaty. It is due to issue its full conclusions on Friday.

While the U.N. panel praised Britain for introducing higher prison sentences for racially motivated crimes, it expressed "deep concerns that racists attacks and harassment were continuing and ethnic minorities were feeling increasingly vulnerable."

The panel's findings come at a time when Britain is in the grip of a debate over the numbers of illegal immigrants and asylum-seekers arriving on its shores from Eastern Europe and the Far East.

MESSAGE BOARD State of race relations

It is also over a year since the official report into the racist murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence by a gang of white youths in south-east London in 1993 accused London's Metropolitan Police of institutional racism -- a charge the force's chief constable accepted.

The Lawrence report redefined institutional racism as "the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin."

The report's author, Sir William Macpherson, accused the Met of being "riddled with pernicious and institutionalised racism."

In February this year -- a year after publishing his report -- Macpherson said little had changed and said the police, army, fire service, the judiciary and even Parliament itself were all guilty of "unwitting" prejudice.

A senior member of the Government then accused his own department of being institutionally racist. Mike O'Brien, a Home Office minister, said that 30 percent of staff had experienced discrimination.

O'Brien, the minister responsible for race relations, said: "Our policy is one of strong anti-racism. But our organisation, both internally and in the services it delivers, fails to reflect our multiracial society. "

He added: "The Home Office is institutionally racist. That does not mean that all its staff are racist."

The U.N. panel recommended that Britain should deal with a backlash in the police force to the criticisms of the Macpherson report and also "take leadership in sending out positive messages about asylum-seekers."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

British investigation finds police racist

Metropolitan Police
United Nations
British Government
Stephen Lawrence Inquiry
Commission for Racial Equality
UK Home Office

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