A report said that racist comments and discrimination by prison staff were commonplace in England's Young Offender Institutions. Black young prisoners suffered racism in silence because of fundamental flaws in prison service complaints procedures.
Source: David Wilson and Sharon Moore, Playing the Game The experiences of young black men in custody, Children s Society (020 7841 4415)
Links: Report (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Dec
Campaigners said that at least 35 murders with a racial element had been committed in England, Wales and Scotland between 1999 and 2003, compared with just 13 in the four years 1994-1998.
Source: Racially Motivated Murders (Known or Suspected) Since 1991, Institute of Race Relations (020 7837 0041)
Links: Report | IRR press release
Date: 2003-Dec
The Commission for Racial Equality accused the prison service in England and Wales of unlawful racial discrimination for a catalogue of failures to properly protect and treat ethnic minority prisoners and staff. It also published an action plan, jointly with the prison service, designed to address the issue of racism in prisons.
Source: Racial Equality in Prisons, Commission for Racial Equality (020 7939 0000) | Implementing Race Equality in Prisons: A shared agenda for change, Commission for Racial Equality and HM Prison Service
Links: Report (pdf) | Action plan (pdf) | CRE press release | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2)
Date: 2003-Dec
A report examined changes since a survey of race relations in prisons conducted in 2000. It said that, although much had been achieved, commendable policies still needed to be translated into reality.
Source: Race and Prisons: Where are we now?, National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (020 7582 6500)
Links: No link
Date: 2003-Nov
A report into racial bias within the criminal prosecution system said that there was no conclusive statistical evidence demonstrating bias and discrimination: but the study did identify a tendency on the part of the police to bring charges against African, Caribbean and Asian people, men and women, on the basis of poorer evidence than in the case of white people.
Source: Gus John, Race for Justice, Crown Prosecution Service (020 7796 8000)
Links: Summary (pdf) | CPS press release | IRR press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Oct
The government published the results of consultation on the race equality impact of proposals in the Criminal Justice Bill. It said that the consultation responses did not suggest the need to make any amendments to its proposals.
Source: Criminal Justice Bill: Full Race Equality Impact Assessments, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Report (pdf) | Text of Bill
Date: 2003-Oct
A BBC programme ('The Secret Policeman') revealed racist attitudes and behaviour among police officers at a training centre. A number of officers identified in the programme subsequently resigned. The Commission for Racial Equality described the revelations as 'truly shocking' and said it would start an inquiry into police racism. Campaigners said racist police officers should be sacked and prosecuted, rather than being allowed to resign.
Source: The Guardian, 22 October 2003 | Statement 21 October 2003, Commission for Racial Equality (020 7939 0000) | Press release 10 November 2003, National Assembly Against Racism (020 7247 9907)
Links: Guardian report | BBC report | CRE statement | NAAR press release
Date: 2003-Oct
The government announced that (following consultation) it would introduce new legislation in Northern Ireland outlawing crimes motivated by sectarianism and racism.
Source: Press release 2 October 2003, Northern Ireland Office (028 9052 0700) | Race and Crime and Sectarian Crime Legislation in Northern Ireland: Summary of responses to consultation, Northern Ireland Office
Links: NIO press release | Stonewall press release | Consultation responses (pdf)
Date: 2003-Oct
A report analysed reported incidents of racial harassment by police in Northern Ireland between 1996 and 2001. It said it was difficult to be certain how much of the large increase in incidents over the period was real, and how much was due to other factors such as changes in willingness to report.
Source: Neil Jarman and Rachel Monaghan, Analysis of Incidents of Racial Harassment Recorded by the Police in Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Executive (028 9052 0500)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Sep
A report examined the way anti-terrorism legislation disproportionately affected refugee and migrant communities, and argued that the legislation was undemocratic and discriminatory.
Source: Terrorising Minority Communities: 'Anti-terrorism' powers, their use and abuse, Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (020 7586 5892)
Links: Report (pdf) | IRR press release
Date: 2003-Sep
The government announced that the Attorney General s power to challenge unduly lenient sentences would be extended to include certain racially and religiously aggravated offences, with effect from 13 October 2003. Cases could be referred to the Court of Appeal for review where it was felt that a tougher sentence was merited.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 11 September 2003, column 29WS, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Press release 11 September 2003, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Hansard | Home Office press release
Date: 2003-Sep
A report reviewed the development of community-based racial harassment support projects (in England and Wales) and considered how casework-led interventions responded to the needs of victims. It found that the projects were unevenly spread across the country, and subject to regular funding crises.
Source: Kusminder Chahal, Racist Harassment Support Projects: Their role, impact and potential, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Links: Report (pdf) | JRF Findings 763 | JRF press release
Date: 2003-Jul
Following consultation, the Crown Prosecution Service published a policy statement on the prosecution of those committing racist or religious crimes.
Source: Racist and Religious Crime: CPS prosecution policy, Crown Prosecution Service (020 7796 8442)
Links: Policy statement (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | CPS press release
Date: 2003-Jul
The police inspectorate published a report on police race relations in Scotland, with 24 recommendations to chief constables - including ensuring proper attention to community cohesion and stability across Scotland.
Source: HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, Pride and Prejudice: Review of police race relations in Scotland, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report | SE press release
Date: 2003-Jun
Black and ethnic minority people made up 19.2 per cent of those stopped and searched by the police in 2001-02, and 18 per cent of the prison population (compared to 5.5 per cent of the population aged over 10). The Commission for Racial Equality deplored the failure to use stop-and-search powers fairly.
Source: Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System: 2002, Home Office (020 7273 2084) | Press release 20.3.03, Commission for Racial Equality (020 7939 0000)
Links: Report (pdf) | CRE press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Mar
The government responded to a critical report by the police inspectorate (published in February 2003) on the training of the police in race issues. It set out a programme of work for implementing the recommendations in the report.
Source: Press release 3.3.03, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Press release | HMIC report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Mar
The number of defendants dealt with by the Crown Prosecution Service for racially motivated crimes rose by 20 per cent in 2001-02. This followed a 28.5 per cent increase in the previous year.
Source: Racist Incident Monitoring Scheme: Annual Report 2001 2002, Crown Prosecution Service (020 7796 8000)
Links: Report (pdf) | CPS press release | CRE statement
Date: 2003-Mar
The Crown Prosecution Service began consultation on how it could improve the way it handled racially and religiously aggravated crime. This followed a reported increase in the number of racist incidents in England and Wales from 11,878 in 1994-95 to 47,814 in 1999-2000. The Commission for Racial Equality said the size of the increase was related to improved police methods, and more public confidence in reporting these crimes: but that nonetheless 'race hate crime is a terrible social problem that is not going away'.
Source: Press release 6 February 2003, Crown Prosecution Service (020 7796 8000) | The Independent, 4 February 2003 | Statement by Commission for Racial Equality, 6 February 2003 (020 7939 0000)
Links: Independent article | CRE statement
Date: 2003-Feb
An inspectorate report described the critical success factors for an effective training programme for police officers in diversity issues, and the consequent impact on police performance. The recommendations set out what is required to make the current system more efficient and effective.
Source: Diversity Matters, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary/Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2003-Feb
The Court of Appeal upheld sentences against eleven young Asian men convicted for their part in the Bradford riots of July 2001, and cut the sentences of four others. Relatives claimed the sentences were excessive, and that the men had been treated unfairly compared with others sentenced for public order offences.
Source: The Guardian, 31.1.03
Links: Guardian report | Press release
Date: 2003-Jan