Letter: Muggings by blacks in London, attacks on blacks in Bristol
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Yesterday's three letters on the issue of black mugging in London repeated the standard knee-jerk reactions of those who object to the truth about this issue being publicly acknowledged. The sociological causes of crime were trotted out, despite the fact this belief has been well and truly demolished by research of many years standing. (Why was there not more crime when the working class was deeply deprived in the Thirties?) Then we had the usual class arguments about stockbrokers living in Surrey, as if commercial fraud were the equivalent of being assaulted and robbed in the street. And, naturally, the whole thing was due to that catch-all of the anti-racist agitators - "racism".
The truth is that Sir Paul Condon has had the wisdom and the courage to bring into the open an issue that causes enormous public anxiety, damages race relations, and plays into the hands of the real racists. You do not solve a problem by pretending it does not exist, or by misrepresenting its character.
There is overwhelming evidence that mugging in London is dominated by young black males - and only about 10 per cent are apprehended. Sir Paul has done no more than express society's belief that something must be done to prevent this from continuing. He has given those involved with the black community the chance to contribute to a possible solution. If they fail to make a constructive response, and take refuge in the sort of attitudes displayed by your correspondents, then they will be failing everyone - not least the law-abiding members of the black community.
Yours faithfully,
Ray Honeyford
Bury,
Lancashire
11 July
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments