Dr Tony Sewell, author of Government report on racism gets it wrong on Tottenham
Dr Tony Sewell was responsible for producing a Government report on racism last week. He concluded broadly that things were getting better although there were still issues with discrimination. It seemed out of line with the experience of many for whom things are definitely not getting better and the report was much criticised.
On the front page of the Daily Telegraph today- an obscure right-wing paper that is sold in newsagents and supermarkets- that he was being silenced or cancelled.
He followed up this up with a major interview in the features section of the paper and a podcast.
I have read the entire report and criticised the history behind Sewell’s claim that things are getting inevitably and inexorably better on racism. Certainly victories happen but then so do defeats.
If the Macpherson report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence was a victory for those who believe more must be done to root out institutionalised racism then Sewell is a defeat. Its not that he doesn’t think things should be done- the report has many recommendations- but rather he doesn’t see a big picture that needs changing.
I was intrigued in Sewell’s interview however by a statement related to Tottenham. He suggested that while Tottenham is 95% comprised of ethnic minorities, it is policed by officers who are 90% white. He suggests this is an argument for having a locally recruited police force-something which has its pros and cons as a strategy.
The problem is that Sewell’s facts are wrong. Tottenham is a very diverse place people wise certainly and all the better for it but here is the population make up from the 2011 census:
27.7% Other White
26.7% Black
22.3% White British
10.7% Asian
12.6% Other/Mixed
No doubt it would be helpful if the police in Tottenham reflected this mix better. It would be even better if they stopped being institutionally racist (obviously far from every officer has this mindset- it is the tone and manner of policing that is the issue).
That however is a point Dr Sewell does not wish to know about it and neither does the Government
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