This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament

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Petition Implement recommendations from previous reports into racial inequality in the UK

From the current health crisis to workplaces to the Windrush scandal there have been many reviews and enquiries into racial inequality. All have come forward with recommendations to tackle racial inequality and these recommendations should be implemented.

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Without implentation there will continue to be inequalities that affect people from a BAME background in many areas of their lives and also throughout their lives. Inaction perpetuates racism and the government of this country has the power to make positive changes by implementing the recommendations from reviews that the government itself commissioned. Surely that is the point of such reviews?

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Ministerial statement on the report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities

On Tuesday 20 April, the Minister for Equalities Kemi Badenoch MP gave a statement to the House of Commons on the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities.

The statement follows the Government's publication of the report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-report-of-the-commission-on-race-and-ethnic-disparities

Watch the statement here: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/b586787a-eb7f-409b-b20e-9cb31d21ddd0?in=13:38:40

Read the transcript here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-04-20/debates/1502466F-D06B-402A-B7C0-03452FFB1DA9/CommissionOnRaceAndEthnicDisparities

Ministerial statements are a way for Ministers to bring an important matter to the attention of the House. Find out more about them here: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/statements/

What is the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities?

The Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities (CRED) has been set up by the Government to review inequality in the UK, focusing on areas including poverty, education, employment, health and the criminal justice system. The Commission, which is independent of the Government, will look at outcomes for the whole population.

Find out more about the Commission here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/commission-on-race-and-ethnic-disparities

Racial disparities in policing report published by the Home Affairs Committee

On Friday 30 July the Home Affairs Committee (a group of MPs who scrutinise the work of the Home Office) published a report that looked at progress in tackling racial disparities in policing. The Committee took as its starting point the recommendations of the Macpherson report, published in 1999, which followed the failed police investigation into the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence.

Read the full report: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5802/cmselect/cmhaff/139/13902.htm

The report calls for urgent action to tackle low levels of BME recruitment and retention, unjustified racial disparities in the use of stop and search and other police powers, and a worrying decline of confidence in the police among some BME communities.

Among its recommendations, the Committee has said:

  • Taking action on increasing trust and confidence in policing in minority ethnic communities needs to become a priority for police forces and the Home Office.
  • There should be a comprehensive review and overhaul of police training on racism, diversity and equality so that training in the future explicitly focuses on anti-racism.
  • There needs to be a new strategy for policing hate crime online, including skills training and technology.
  • The Government should agree minimum targets for the recruitment of BME officers with each constabulary in England and Wales reflecting the respective composition of its local population.
  • There should be reforms to stop and search powers including: recording the ethnicity of those who are subject to road traffic stops, additional training for police officers and staff on communication, conflict management and de-escalation, and full use of body worn video, with internal reviews and external community oversight.
  • The Home Secretary should establish and chair, under the aegis of the National Policing Board, a Race Equality Steering Group.

The Government will respond to the Committee's report in the coming weeks.

What is the Home Affairs Committee?

The Home Affairs Committee scrutinises the work of the Home Office and its associated public bodies. It examines government policy, spending and administration on behalf of the electorate and the House of Commons. It's a cross-party committee and is independent of the Government.

Find out more on their website: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/83/home-affairs-committee/

You can get updates on their work by following the Committee on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/CommonsHomeAffs

This is a ‘select committee’. Find out how Select Committees work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c