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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Phillips clears police of racism | Phillips clears police of racism |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The police should no longer be accused of institutional racism, the UK's equalities chief has said. | The police should no longer be accused of institutional racism, the UK's equalities chief has said. |
| In a speech marking 10 years since the Stephen Lawrence murder report, Trevor Phillips said the UK and the police have changed massively. | |
| He said that Britain is "by far the best place in Europe to live if you are not white". | |
| But Mr Phillips also criticised Prince Harry's use of the word Paki to describe a fellow officer. | |
| In a wide-ranging speech on Monday, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission chief said the UK is now a much changed place at ease with racial diversity - even if problems still remain. | |
| Different approach | Different approach |
| He said the accusation of institutionalised racism levelled against the Metropolitan Police by the Macpherson Report into Stephen Lawrence's death was no longer appropriate. Today Britain is by far - I mean by far - the best place in Europe to live if you are not white Trevor Phillips | He said the accusation of institutionalised racism levelled against the Metropolitan Police by the Macpherson Report into Stephen Lawrence's death was no longer appropriate. Today Britain is by far - I mean by far - the best place in Europe to live if you are not white Trevor Phillips |
| "The use of the term was incendiary," he said. "It rocked the foundations of the police service and caused widespread anguish in government. | |
| "Today most people would argue that despite the controversy, on balance the positive changes provoked by Macpherson have outweighed the cost of the political turmoil. | "Today most people would argue that despite the controversy, on balance the positive changes provoked by Macpherson have outweighed the cost of the political turmoil. |
| "But does this mean that I believe that the Met, or any force for that matter, should be pilloried with the single blanket accusation of being institutionally racist? I don't think so. That would imply that nothing has changed. | "But does this mean that I believe that the Met, or any force for that matter, should be pilloried with the single blanket accusation of being institutionally racist? I don't think so. That would imply that nothing has changed. |
| "Would the police deal with Stephen Lawrence's murder differently today? Evidence from the murder of Anthony Walker in Merseyside in 2005 indicates they would." | "Would the police deal with Stephen Lawrence's murder differently today? Evidence from the murder of Anthony Walker in Merseyside in 2005 indicates they would." |
| Eighteen-year-old Anthony Walker was killed with an ice axe in a park at Huyton in July 2005. Two men were convicted of his murder. | Eighteen-year-old Anthony Walker was killed with an ice axe in a park at Huyton in July 2005. Two men were convicted of his murder. |
| Det Ch Supt Peter Currie, who led the investigation into the racist murder, was later awarded the Queen's Police Medal. | Det Ch Supt Peter Currie, who led the investigation into the racist murder, was later awarded the Queen's Police Medal. |
| Mr Phillips called for a national debate on equality, saying the agenda must shift from single issues, such as racism or age, and a red-tape box-ticking culture that has developed around racism law. | |
| In its place must come a broader drive for equality, based on forthcoming reforms, which ensures anyone from any background has the same chances in life as anybody else. | In its place must come a broader drive for equality, based on forthcoming reforms, which ensures anyone from any background has the same chances in life as anybody else. |
| 'One of the boys' | 'One of the boys' |
| Mr Phillips' speech highlights data and surveys indicating that younger people are increasingly relaxed about ethnic diversity because they have grown up with it. | Mr Phillips' speech highlights data and surveys indicating that younger people are increasingly relaxed about ethnic diversity because they have grown up with it. |
| In contrast, he turned to Prince Harry's recently-revealed casual use of the word "Paki" while an officer cadet. | |
| "Few of us feel that Prince Harry is some kind of racist or homophobic bigot, however ill-judged his choice of fancy dress costume, however crude and offensive his remarks," Mr Phillips said. | |
| "But we can see he likes to be one of the boys. And as one of the boys, he operates by the unwritten code of his environment - a code that didn't once cause him to question whether calling fellow officers 'Paki', 'raghead' or 'queer' was insulting or inappropriate. | "But we can see he likes to be one of the boys. And as one of the boys, he operates by the unwritten code of his environment - a code that didn't once cause him to question whether calling fellow officers 'Paki', 'raghead' or 'queer' was insulting or inappropriate. |
| "Our nation is changing dramatically. We are becoming more diverse by the day. The trend is clear: the younger you are, the less prejudiced you are." | "Our nation is changing dramatically. We are becoming more diverse by the day. The trend is clear: the younger you are, the less prejudiced you are." |