Haringey Racial Equality Council letter on offensive terms used in stop and search statistics February 1995

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This is a letter from the Haringey Racial Equality Council to Bernie Grant MP, dated February 17, 1995, addressing concerns over offensive racial terminology used in police Stop and Search statistics. The letter criticizes the insensitive language describing ethnic groups and highlights the disproportionate targeting of African and African-Caribbean communities in Haringey. It also outlines ongoing efforts to challenge policing practices through dialogue with local police authorities.

Key points:
– The police used offensive racial terms such as 'Negroid Types' and 'Indian and Pakistani Types' in Stop and Search statistics.
– Haringey Racial Equality Council found the terminology insulting despite years of racial awareness training for police.
– There is a high number of Stop and Searches targeting African and African-Caribbean communities in Haringey.
– The Council planned to meet with police superintendents to discuss actions addressing these concerns.
– The letter acknowledges Bernie Grant’s involvement and invites further collaboration on the issue.

Bernie Grant was a pioneering Black British MP known for his commitment to racial justice and community representation. This letter exemplifies local efforts in the mid-1990s to confront oppressive policing tactics in Tottenham and Haringey, highlighting the intersections of anti-racist activism, local government accountability, and the pursuit of fair treatment for Black and minority ethnic communities.

Source note: The OCR transcript is generally clear, though some names and small details required cautious interpretation to ensure accuracy.