Let's get it right: race and justice 2000 - Nacro

The Stephen LawrenceInquiry ReportIn the last year of the millennium, the report of theInquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence paints acomprehensive picture of what can and did go wrong inthe way the criminal justice system responded to the racistmurder of a young man. It has implications not only forthe police, but for all criminal justice agencies. Accordingto the report:‘There is a striking and inescapable need todemonstrate fairness, not just by Police Services,but across the criminal justice system as a whole,in order to generate trust and confidence withinminority ethnic communities, who undoubtedlyperceive themselves to be discriminated against by“the system”. Just as justice needs to be “seen tobe done” so fairness must be “seen to bedemonstrated” in order to generate trust.’ ( 46.30)Repairing the damageThe Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report offers newopportunities for the criminal justice system to:nnnrepair the damage to community relationsbuild bridges to local communitiespromote openness and accountabilityover the past decade in the main criminal justice agencies.It also looks at the role of the voluntary sector – victimsupport groups and local community organisations - andhow they can contribute in partnership with statutorybodies.What progress has been made? What has been achieved interms of community confidence in crime prevention,community safety and a fair delivery of justice to allmembers of diverse, modern Britain?At the 1997 Labour Party conference, Prime Minister,Tony Blair said:‘We cannot be a beacon to the world unless thetalents of all the people shine through. Not oneblack high court judge; not one black chiefconstable or permanent secretary; not one blackarmy officer above the rank of colonel. Not oneAsian either. Not a record of pride for the Britishestablishment. And not a record of pride forParliament, that there are so few black and AsianMPs.’Despite all the work and all the efforts made by policeand other criminal justice organisations since the Scarmanreport, the impetus has been lost and opportunities havenot been grasped as fully as they should have been.The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report gives us a newchance.ndevelop partnerships with the wider communityIt is a rare opportunity. It must be taken.and‘… to produce a criminal justice service which isaccessible and acceptable throughout to all thosewho experience it’. (46.37)A fresh approach, based on the insistence of fundamentalhuman rights which are internationally recognised, andthe underlying spirit of the Stephen Lawrence InquiryReport, can tackle the structural inequalities and injusticesthat remain all too apparent in the administration ofjustice - without turning local communities into powerlessvictims.This reportAs the millennium approaches, this report suggests howto move forwards, and how to build on key developments8