Letter: Police racism
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Sir: Kathy Marks ("Problem is not isolated", 20 October) suggests that I contradicted the Commissioner in accepting institutional racism within the police whilst he denies it. Not true.
During the making of the programme Heart of the Matter I echoed the Commissioner's concern over the use of the term "institutional racism" as defined by Lord Scarman, "knowingly as a matter of policy", and over the many definitions that are around.
The Commissioner and I have both said that the problem of racism extends beyond bad apples but needs a new agreed definition behind which we can all mobilise.
DENIS O'CONNOR
Assistant Commissioner
South West Area
Metropolitan Police
Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey
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