NCJ Number
94794
Date Published
1983
Length
159 pages
Annotation
Britain's treatment of black people cannot be explained merely by the existence of racist individuals. This book examines the context of racism in Britain by focusing on racism in the police and judicial systems.
Abstract
In the early 1960's, racism became institutionalized in Britain when Immigration Control defined black people as a problem to be controlled through limiting their entry into Britain and several fact finding committees failed to cause change in policies and procedures that were found to be discriminatory. While complaints of racist police behavior have been a common historical phenomenon, the modern pattern and consistency of such complaints is unprecedented. Efforts to recruit blacks into the police force, develop community relations, and reduce racial mistrust have failed to ameliorate this situation. While individual policemen may continue to hold racist attitudes, individual beliefs do not adequately account for the police force's institutionalized racism. Criminal courts' attitudes toward blacks, the charges used, procedures invoked, and the sentencing, behavior, and attitudes of judges are reviewed. Evidence of racism in prison is cited and analyzed.