§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now able to make a further statement on progress on his investigations into extremist and racist organisations and the establishment of special police investigation units into racism.
§ Mr. WhitelawAs I announced on 5 March, a study of the incidence of racial attacks is being conducted in selected police areas in England and Wales. The areas selected are:
- Bedfordshire
- Greater Manchester
- Kent
- Lancashire
- Leicestershire
- Merseyside
- South Wales
- Sussex
- Thames Valley
- The Metropolitan Police District
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands
- West Yorkshire
My officials will be visiting these areas during May and June to obtain, at first hand, the views of the local authorities ethnic and other minority communities, and the police. In the light of the study I shall consider with the police and other agencies possible ways of tackling the problems posed by such attacks.