HC Deb 02 July 1992 vol 210 cc686-7W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis about the operation of the police's Thamesmead race unit in its activities against racial harassment; if he will indicate by ethnic group the numbers arrested and the number of victims; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Charles Wardle

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that two police constables employed on Plumstead police division, which includes the Thamesmead area, are dedicated to the investigation of racial incidents. These officers maintain close liaison with the London borough of Greenwich, and with the Greenwich action committee against racial attacks.

A total of 203 substantiated complaints of racially motivated crime in 1991 were made to Plumstead division, of which 77–40 per cent.—were solved by these two officers.

Of the 203 victims, 104 were Asian, 49 white, and 44 Afro-Caribbean and six victims were from other ethnic groups. Forty-one white and eight Afro-Caribbean suspected were arrested.

I commend the work of these officers. The level of racially motivated crimes which have been cleared up on the division is good evidence of this initiative's success in tackling racially motivated crime.