Institutional racism ‘still present’ in public bodies
Institutional racism still exists within public sector bodies, according to responses to a government consultation.
A summary of feedback on a Communities and Local Government department consultation on tackling race inequality states: ‘It was felt that institutional racism still existed within the public sector and that organisations should acknowledge this.
‘Public sector organisations needed to discuss with their employees how institutional racism should be tackled and monitored.’
The CLG published a consultation document on its approach to tackling race inequality in February last year, and last week released the findings.
It received 89 written responses from bodies including the Chartered Institute of Housing and the National Housing Federation, and 350 people attended eight regional ‘listening events’ to feed into the discussion.
The exercise informed the government’s tackling race inequality statement, which was published on 14 January.
Respondents felt ethnic minority communities suffer a general disadvantage which has an impact on the potential of individuals. They also said it is important to consider the impact of minority ethnic lifestyles on accommodation needs.
There was a strong call for public bodies to demonstrate good track records on equality and diversity, which would mean engaging with the minority ethnic voluntary and community sector.
The document concludes: ‘The responses received and the feedback from the listening events showed wide support for a dedicated race strategy.’
Have your say
You must sign in to make a comment
Readers' comments (5)
john O'Hanrahan | 15/03/2010 12:43 pm
I find this hard to believe unless it's racism towards white, British guys.. I have recently attended assessments and interviews for 6 public bodies and on each occasion found myself to be the only white, British male..The last recruitment assessment day I was on I was the only WBM out of 61 applicants that had been shortlisted.!!! I don't know where these loony lefty PC worshipers are getting there information from but to claim institutional racism does seem a bit too far fetched and out dated.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
kass | 15/03/2010 12:46 pm
Ok, so does this mean these are racist insitutions or that they are non-racist insitutions doing their best to be non-racist?
and if this the latter when was last time a staff was prosecuted and sentenced for racism - and not just given a holiday, a pay off or a pension?... I cannot recall a single case, even though this article shows there is racism going on.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Rick Griffen | 15/03/2010 2:02 pm
I can emphathise with John. Everytime I apply for public sector position I turn up for the 2nd round of the selection process and 9/10 I find myself the only White Male candidtate..!! Are you telling me that not one single white, British male candidate that had applied has not been fit to be shortlisted..! also at these public orhganisations, the majority of the staff 9/10 happen to be non male, non white British, so I fail to see how these claims of institutional racism hold water. How credible is it to say that racism exists it's not fair as many public bodies have positive discrimation anyway, which is a proven fact whichever PC wall you want to hide behind..!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
| 15/03/2010 3:13 pm
The above amply illustrates that the UK race relations industry is not in the business of promoting equality; rather it is in the business of promoting privilege for specific ethnic groups via active discrimination against the incumbent population. Which is pretty much the single biggest act of treason in living memory. For a country whose institutions are so "institutionally racist" we sure don't seem to have a problem attracting third world immigrants by the million do we? And, looking at the posts above, they don't seem to experience any problems getting public sector jobs do they? The monstrous race relations apparatus should be dismantled as soon as possible.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
the purple avenger | 15/03/2010 4:28 pm
I work for a Housing association and I do not believe these claims. Both the Housing Sector and local government sector are PC beyond belief - to the point where minority groups are favoured if all else is equal - it heps tick boxes and meet targets. In a way the pressure groups have been too successful - there is now so little racism that they have ceased to be relevant and they now are trying to convince us there is still a problem in order to keep going. Whilst there is diffrence there will always be bias and favouratism - but as we are now having to invent new categories of minority (such as the TSA with their 7th strand) it is clear that the problems once present are largely behind us.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment