§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any(a) legislative and (b) non-legislative proposals to combat the rising number of racial attacks; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdThe Public Order Bill contains a new offence of disorderly conduct, which is relevant to racial harassment, and also strengthens the law against incitement to racial hatred.
The Government want all practicable action to be taken to deter racial attacks, and to identify and deal with those who commit these crimes. I welcome the "Guiding Principles concerning Racial Attacks" issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers last October, which set out advice on the monitoring of, and response to, racial attacks. These guidelines emphasise the need for a vigorous and sympathetic response from the police.
Earlier this year the Metropolitan police issued best practice guidelines on the recording and monitoring of racial incidents. These set out minimum requirements including, for example, follow-up visits to victims, to be adopted throughout the Metropolitan police, and a variety of additional measures which are being adopted on an experimental basis in different parts of the Metropolitan police area, according to local circumstances.
Training for both probationers and police managers has been developed so as to encourage a better understanding of the minority communities. Racial attacks receive special attention in the community and race relations training provided for officers who are given particular community liaison responsibilities.
The Home Office research and planning unit programme for 1986–87 includes a study of the nature and incidence of racially motivated incidents in selected areas and a study of possible improvements in the police response to such incidents and of victims' perceptions and needs. Both studies are due to be completed next year.
The Sub-Committee on Race Relations and Immigration of the Home Affairs Select Committee is conducting an inquiry into racial attacks. The Government will examine the report of the inquiry with great care.