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Councils accused of inaction on racial harassment

01 January 1991

Councils accused of inaction on racial harassment
artdoc June=1991

Local authorities, many of whom have adopted strong policy
statements on racial harassment, have failed to take legal
action against tenants who commit acts of harassment and
violence against their black neighbours, according to a report
issued by the Legal Action Group. The report found that,
although 21 London boroughs had adopted policies promising
action, only 10 had actually initiated court proceedings and
just 25 cases had been recorded since 1984. The lack of action
was attributed to delays by council housing officers, poor
management in town ball legal departments, and a failure to
consider appropriate remedies such as injunctions. A `vicious
circle' of professional mistrust sometimes built up between
local authority housing and legal departments, preventing
effective implementation of their anti-racial harassment
policies, and often it was the victims who ended up being
required to leave their homes rather than their attackers.
(Times 13.9.90 and Independent 21.9.90)

IRR Police-Media Bulletin No 64. Institute of Race Relations,
2-6 Leeke Street, London WC1X 9HS