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

Let’s get it rightresponsibility on the CPS, the courts, the legal professionsand the prison and probation services to work with localauthorities and community organisations to ensure justiceand fairness for all.The new Ministerial Priority that has been agreed for thepolice should be applied to the entire criminal justicesystem and its services to people from minoritycommunities as victims and witnesses, suspects andoffenders, professional staff, and partnerships. It could besubject to a ‘friendly’ amendment (the underlined words):‘To increase trust and confidence in criminaljustice amongst minority ethnic communities.’Institutional racismAccording to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report :‘Institutional racism consists of the collectivefailure of an organisation to provide an appropriateand professional service to people because of theircolour, culture or ethnic origin. It can be seen ordetected in processes, attitudes and behaviourwhich amount to discrimination through unwittingprejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness, and raciststereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnicpeople.’ ( 6.34)Institutional racism – which does not mean that allindividuals in an organisation are racist – is not limited topolice services, but applies in many organisationsincluding the other criminal justice agencies.The Inquiry Report continues:‘It is incumbent upon every institution to examinetheir policies and the outcome of their policies andpractices to guard against disadvantaging anysection of our communities.’As a first step, to implement the spirit of the InquiryReport, all criminal justice agencies shouldConduct an audit of current policies, and the impact ofpractices and procedures, on local communities(particularly at key decision-making points).Conduct routine ethnic monitoring of all aspects oftheir work – and make local use of the results.Involve local communities in discussing the results ofmonitoring and devising plans to tackle any problemsidentified.Openness and accountabilityRecommendations 3-11 cover ways to promote ‘avigorous pursuit of openness and accountability’ ( 46.32).The report says that:‘… the principle which should govern the policeservices, and indeed the criminal justice system, isthat they should be accountable under all relevantlegislative provisions …’ (46.32)The Government has accepted most of theserecommendations. It will expand the Race Relations Act1976 to cover all public services. From October 2000onwards, when the Human Rights Act 1998 comes intoeffect, Article 14 of the European Convention on HumanRights – the prohibition of discrimination - will apply toall public authorities, including criminal justice agencies.These changes are to come. Meanwhile, there are stepsthat can be taken now by all criminal justice agencies:Extend lay involvementThe MPS has established a Lay Advisory Group toadvise its Racial and Violent Crime Force, a modelthat could be adapted by other agencies. Local raceequality councils and other community groups can beasked to help to establish lay panels drawn as widelyas possible from different communities and differentage groups. Lay panels can act as sounding boards inlocal areas and can be a rich source of advice whendeveloping, say, a training strategy, a crimeprevention plan or a customer survey. A court couldinvolve a lay panel in user group meetings; a prisoncould use a lay advisory group in devising stafftraining programmes; the police could apply the laymodel to other aspects of their work such as theimpact of stop and search.Develop organisational accountabilityThis can be promoted by working in partnership witha range of statutory and non-statutory organisations.Existing mechanisms can be strengthened and usedmore effectively. For example, Community PoliceConsultative Groups, must become more dynamic,effective and widely representative in a way they havenot been so far. A two-way dialogue between criminaljustice practitioners and young people is crucial.Imaginative and flexible ways to make contact with allages and community groups must be found.56