Dark side of Britain

Many incidents of racism surfaced this year, revealing the darker side of multi-ethnic Britain.

Many incidents of racism surfaced this year, revealing the darker side of Britain. Among the most glaring examples of racism was a recent report that black and Asian inmates of the Feltham Young Offenders Institution are subjected to a surfeit of racist abuses.

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Another report even the Metropolitan Police was accused of being institutionally racist. While the Met is now trying to build the right equation with ethnic minorities in Britain, the report shook the trust that people had in the organisation.

In fact Lord Chancellor Falconer also admitted this year that too many Blacks and Asians are being stopped and searched by the police. He said the disparity needs to be reduced.

Race trouble is also brewing in Northern Ireland's Oldham area where Asian window cleaners in Oldham, a north England city where mostly Bangladeshis and Pakistanis are settled, are allegedly racially harassing their white rivals.

One other report, from a Government task force, said a "Black pay gap" leaves Asian and black workers earning up to £75,00 less than white people.

In other cases of racial discrimination the most recent is the ongoing fight for justice for Kamlesh Bhal, a solicitor who had to resign from her post of Vice-President of the powerful Law Society following alleged charges of bullying. She has got tremendous support from the Asian community. Recently, her sympathisers signed a petition to be presented to Prime Minister Tony Blair. Hope that the justice comes through, fast and for all!