§ 12. Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what talks he has had with chief constables and community leaders on the prevalence of racist attacks.
§ Mr. HurdI discussed racial attacks with chief officers of police and community leaders at the meeting of my Advisory Council on Race Relations on 1 October. The Association of Chief Police Officers, whose president was present, presented a statement of guiding principles for police action on racial attacks which has now been sent to all chief constables. I very much welcome the police's renewed commitment to tackling this serious issue.
My hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State has had a number of meetings with ethnic minority organisations in recent months at which racial attacks have been discussed, and earlier this year he visited Tower Hamlets to discuss this problem with local organisations and community leaders.
§ 55. Mr. Flanneryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to discuss the number of racial attacks against coloured people with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.
§ Mr. Giles ShawRacial attacks were discussed at my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's first meeting with the commissioner on 11 September. The commissioner has action against racial attacks as a priority in his force goals for this year. Much police effort is devoted both to preventing such incidents and to apprehending those responsible when attacks occur.
The Home Secretary supports the high priority the commissioner is giving to this problem and his attempts to secure the co-operation of other agencies in tackling its roots.