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Row over racist attacks statistics

01 January 1991

Row over racist attacks statistics
artdoc May=1991

The publication of the European Parliament's Inquiry into the Rise of
Racism and Fascism in Europe, has led to a debate, via the letters page
of the Guardian about who possesses the correct statistics on racial
violence. Chief Inspector Day of Scotland Yard's Community Involvement
Branch wrote to the Guardian suggesting that the figure of 70,000 racial
incidents per year, quoted by Glyn Ford MEP, was `scaremongering', and
referred instead to Home Office figures of 4580
incidents per annum.
In response, Lee Bridges quotes statistical evidence from a survey
of the London Borough of Newham which shows that police statistics are
massively unrepresentative of the extent of racial violence in Britain.
`Rather than accusing others of scaremongering, the police need to
examine what it is about their response to the problem that discourages
so many of those experiencing racial violence from reporting cases to
them'. And Paul Gordon of the Runnymede Trust gives details of the
basis upon which the figure of 70,000 incidents was arrived at. And Tim
Seamen says that `Home Office figures... are a woeful underestimate of
the actual situation' (Sunday Express 10.10.90, Birmingham Daily News
11.10.90, Daily Telegraph 11.10.90, Guardian 12,15 and 19.10.90)
IRR Police-Media Bulletin, no 65. Institute of Race Relations, 2-6 Leeke
Street, London WC1X 9HS