This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/south_east/7697728.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| MP defends police race criticism | MP defends police race criticism |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A Conservative MP has defended his criticism of a black police officers' group when he told them their policy on white members could be seen as racism. | A Conservative MP has defended his criticism of a black police officers' group when he told them their policy on white members could be seen as racism. |
| Monmouth MP David Davies said it was a matter of principle to urge the National Black Police Association to let white officers be full members. | Monmouth MP David Davies said it was a matter of principle to urge the National Black Police Association to let white officers be full members. |
| He was slow-handclapped at the York conference and a number walked out. | He was slow-handclapped at the York conference and a number walked out. |
| But the NBPA said the MP, a special constable, was disrespectful, and some members at a local level were white. | But the NBPA said the MP, a special constable, was disrespectful, and some members at a local level were white. |
| He was invited by mistake, when the NBPA wanted to hear from his near-namesake, former shadow home secretary David Davis. | |
| Instead the Monmouth MP received the invitation, and he astonished members with a highly critical speech. | |
| Mr Davies said full membership of the association should be open to white officers, and not simply associate membership. It got very heated unfortunately but what I said was a matter of principle David Davies, Monmouth MP | |
| "I did say the association policy of denying full membership to white police officers could be viewed as racism," said Mr Davies. | |
| He also told the conference its policy could suggest that white people care less about racism than people of black, middle eastern or African origin.< | |
| He had told the conference that it was a shame that full membership [of the NBPA] ws open only to those of black, Asian or Middle Eastern origin. | He had told the conference that it was a shame that full membership [of the NBPA] ws open only to those of black, Asian or Middle Eastern origin. |
| "Tackling racism and unfair treatment of ethnic minorities is something which is taken seriously by members of every race," he told the conference. | "Tackling racism and unfair treatment of ethnic minorities is something which is taken seriously by members of every race," he told the conference. |
| In a question and answer session at the end Mr Davies's comments were likened to those of the British National Party in the 1980s. | In a question and answer session at the end Mr Davies's comments were likened to those of the British National Party in the 1980s. |
| He told delegates: "You invited me to come here, if you wanted someone just to turn up and give the same old speech you should have picked somebody else." | He told delegates: "You invited me to come here, if you wanted someone just to turn up and give the same old speech you should have picked somebody else." |
| 'A bit surprised' | |
| Mr Davies said later: "It got very heated unfortunately, but what I said was a matter of principle." | |
| He said he was asked if he wanted an escort to take him from the building because he had so enraged some members of the audience. | |
| He said: "They asked me to come along and speak to them. I'm a member of the home affairs select committee and a special constable and I accepted. He was extremely disrespectful to the NBPA and it did cause concern National Black Police Association | |
| "It seems they may have wanted the other David Davies but that's not my problem. They're the NBPA - I would expect them to know the difference." | |
| "If I'm asked to going along there and give a speech that's what I'm going to do." | |
| "They did look a bit surprised when I turned up and told them what I was going to say. | |
| "I don't think they realised the full gravity of what it was going to mean." | |
| He stood by his criticisms, saying it was "unacceptable" and "disgraceful" that white officers were excluded from the group. | |
| "They seem to hold the view that only black and Asian people care about racism and that's not true." | |
| A spokesman for the National Black Police Association said: "He was extremely disrespectful to the NBPA and it did cause concern. | A spokesman for the National Black Police Association said: "He was extremely disrespectful to the NBPA and it did cause concern. |
| "The NBPA does not have any individual members. It is made up of local associations and some allow full white membership. | "The NBPA does not have any individual members. It is made up of local associations and some allow full white membership. |
| "He was slow-handclapped and about a dozen of our members walked out." | "He was slow-handclapped and about a dozen of our members walked out." |
| Some officers at the conference had expected Mr Davies's namesake, the former shadow home secretary David Davis, to be speaking. | Some officers at the conference had expected Mr Davies's namesake, the former shadow home secretary David Davis, to be speaking. |
| But the NBPA spokesman said the Monmouth MP had been asked because of his role on the commons home affairs committee. | But the NBPA spokesman said the Monmouth MP had been asked because of his role on the commons home affairs committee. |
| "We are going to discuss whether to invite David Davies again," he said. |