25th August 2009: Mr. Lee Jasper is a British race equality campaigner and one of the most dedicated fighters for the rights of black community members in the UK. In this interview he condemns the level of stop and search conducted on African communities in the UK terming it “far too high and unacceptable”.

Do you think there has been a change in recent years in the way black people perceive the police? If yes, how do they perceive the police now?

There have been many changes in relation to policing over the last 30 years. We have witnessed the eradication of the widespread overt crude racism that characterized the African experience of policing. There has been a reduction in the number of African deaths in custody during that period as a result of heroic campaigns led by the families of those who suffered tragic losses and some political and judicial reform has taken place. African recruitment in some parts of the country notably London has dramatically increased making the Police Service more representative.

However real problems still remain. The level of stop and search conducted on African communities is far too high and unacceptable. This is a consequence of what I believe is a sub culture that racially profiles all Africans as illegal immigrants or criminals. This leads to huge numbers of Africans being repeatedly stopped and searched by police officers. This aggravates police community relations.

Further, there has been a 50% increase in recent years of the numbers of Africans in prison. This is an alarming and shocking figure and I strongly believe that the Criminal Justice System here in the UK is institutionally racist and discriminates against Africans at certain key stages in the criminal justice process.

What's the state of the fight against racism in the UK today?

Our struggle has reached a hiatus and is in need of urgent attention. We need to find a new language to articulate our demands. I believe that new language is economics. We must tackle the underlying root poverty that fuels the social problems we face and we must utilize our consumer spending power to force change on a reluctant and largely discriminatory private sector. Over 80% of Africans work in the public sector.

Our work now must attack poverty and build effective broad based political alliances with other communities who suffer similarly.

Moreover we must wean ourselves off Government funding for African Non Governmental Organisations that have become politically anesthetized as a consequence of being funded by Government and being forced into short-term project based responses to long-term systemic problems faced by us.

It is also important that we continue to vigorously oppose the fascist British National Party that continues to gain increasing levels of electoral support. That’s why I believe we should support the Unite Against Fascism campaign (www.uaf.org.uk). We also need to work in broad alliance with other discriminated communities in seeking to tackle racism in education, housing and the labour market. I am currently the National Secretary of the National Assembly Against Racism (www.naar.org.uk). This work remains absolutely critical to ensuring we combat domestic racism within the UK.

How can racism in the police institution be fought?

We need total reform of policing in the UK. First we must make policing more accountable. We must have a stronger elected element of local control. Secondly we must take disciplinary matters out of the hands of the police and have these complaints assessed independently from a body that can recommend disciplinary action. Thirdly we must ensure that training for police officers take place in colleges and schools, not quasi militarily style training establishments so as to defeat the discriminatory culture of 'espirit de corp' that supports racist banter and behaviour. Fourthly we must reform the office of constable so as to reduce the extent to which individual officer can use discretion and their subjective interpretation of the law as a basis for arrest and prosecution. Finally we need to ensure that the police service reflects the community it serves.

LEE JASPER’S CONTACTS
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