§ Lord Windleshamasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there are any comparable precedents for the type of statutory duty imposed on local authorities and the police by Section 17(1) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. [HL406]
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn)There are similar requirements which apply either to local authorities or to police authorities. However, so far as I am aware, the only comparable precedent applying to both is found in Section 71 of the Race Relations Act 1976, which requires both local and police authorities to ensure that their various functions are carried out with due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different racial groups.