§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the Metropolitan police procedures on dealing with racial harassment.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe present Metropolitan police procedures for dealing with racial incidents, including racial harassment, were introduced at the end of April 1983 and the details were made public at that time. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the relevant Metropolitan police press release.
278WIn addition to these procedures a new programme of policing skills training has been established at district training centres, part of which is designed to help officers respond more sympathetically and positively to racial incidents. This training will be given to all officers up to the rank of superintendent. These arrangements apply throughout the Metropolitan police district.
In five districts (Tower Hamlets, Newham, Bexley and Greenwich, Harringay and Ealing and Hillingdon) where racial attacks have been particularly worrying, a review of current procedures, using a new method of crime analysis, has been set in hand. The object is to find the root cause of the problem and to involve all relevant agencies in the area in tackling it. The lessons of these reviews will be applied, as appropriate, throughout London.
As I have previously informed the hon. Member for Norwood (Mr. Fraser) in reply to a question, my right hon. and learned Friend and I will keep the House informed of progress.