The BBC documentary the Secret Policeman sent out a chilling message:
racism is endemic within the police and the neo-Nazi BNP is actively infiltrating
the police. This, however, is no surprise to all those who have been campaigning
relentlessly for the full implementation of the Lawrence Report recommendations.
Institutional racism has dropped off the national agenda in the last couple
of years. The documentary highlighted the urgency in redoubling our efforts
to campaign against racism within the police and in the criminal justice system
as a whole.
The documentary exposed the extent of extreme racist views by trainee
officers at the Bruche Police Training College in Chester. Eight police officers
serving in three forces were subsequently suspended and six of them have since
resigned their positions. That their resignations have been accepted before
any disciplinary action has taken place is unacceptable. None of the racist
officers exposed in the documentary should have been allowed to escape without
any charges or disciplinary action.
NAAR supports the call by the National Black Police Association for a full inquiry - "detailed investigation into the BBC's findings and seeking further undertakings from the Police Service to actively root out similar racism nationally". BNP membership is utterly incompatible with membership of police force. The BNP is a racist group, with the aim of a white only Britain, which can only be achieved through violent means.
Following the broadcast, Nick Griffin's claimed BNP members in the police force provided the BNP with intelligence on areas where there was racial tension so activists could move into the areas to pick up supporters. These claims must be fully investigated and the BNP must be forced to disclose the nature of any information and who it has been provided by. Police officers found to have abused their position in this corrupt manner must face dismissal.
Racism is endemic within police forces around the country and that not enough
is being done to eradicate institutional racism and racist officers from the
police. The National Black Police Association have consistently highlighted
the failures of police forces around the country in eradicating racism. It
is unacceptable that more resources have been put into investigating unfounded
allegations against black police officers such as Ali Dizaei and Leroy Logan
than pursuing and taking legal action against racist police officers.