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U.K. row over racial profiling order

Hasan Suroor

LONDON: : A new controversy has erupted over racial profiling of terror suspects after it emerged that, in the wake of 7/7, police officers were instructed to keep in mind that "recent suspects have included individuals of Asian, West Indian and east African origin, some of whom have British nationality''.

The instructions, contained in an operational order, contradict the official policy which advises officers not to use "stereotypical images'' of terrorists when deciding to stop and search a person.

The disclosure by The Independent newspaper prompted accusations of racism against the police with civil rights groups calling for an inquiry by the Commission for Racial Equality.

The issue was also expected to be raised at a special meeting of Parliament's home affairs select committee called to discuss matters "arising from the London bombings''. An Opposition member of the Committee described it as a "tacit invitation'' for police to focus on certain racial groups. "Apart from the racial stereotyping, the parallel concern is that the guidance is so vague. It seems to be a tacit invitation to stop and search people from these racial groups. It's very bad policing,'' Nick Harvey, a Liberal Democrat MP on the committee said.

A spokesman for Operation Black Vote said it was this sort of "crude profiling'' that may have led to the killing of Jean Charles de Menezes, the Brazilian youth shot dead by the police in July on suspicion of carrying explosives.

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