• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS

Straw: ‘Met no longer institutionally racist’

February 20, 2009 by Martin Hoscik

Justice Secretary Jack Straw, who as Home Secretary ordered the Macpherson inquiry that found the Metropolitan Police service was ‘institutionally racist’ has said this is no longer the case.

The Macpherson inquiry was ordered following the murder of Stephen Lawrence at a bus-stop in Eltham, south-east London, in 1993. Five suspects were arrested but but never convicted. In 1999 Sir William MacPherson headed an inquiry which examined the Met’s investigation and famously concluded that the force was “institutionally racist”.

In an interview with the London edition of The Politics Show to mark the tenth anniversary of the Macpherson report and to be broadcast this Sunday Straw says: “…if you are asking me whether I believe the Met as a whole is still institutionally racist, the answer is no.”

He goes on to say: “If you ask me do I believe that it’s perfect as an institution and that black and Asian people, and indeed women, have the same opportunities in practice as white males, I think the answer is – probably not in some areas.”

He concedes that while it was gone from the Met as a whole “There may still be pockets of institutional racism.”

The Politics Show (London), 22nd February, 2009, 12:30pm, BBC1

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Filed Under: News

RECENT UPDATES

Tube and rail users to benefit from Oyster weekly fares cap

Mayor and TfL call on ministers to help plug funding gap

Tube to get full mobile phone coverage from 2024

TfL says Direct Vision Standard is already making HGVs safer for London road users




POPULAR

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

Copyright © 2025 · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy