Tackling militant racism

• Main Author: Jepson, Peter Arthur
• Published: University College London (University of London) 1999
• Subjects: 340
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.392530

I start by first considering the obligations of local authorities to tackle racism. I do this by exploring the legal responsibilities of a local authority, to promote equality of opportunity and by looking at what steps can be taken - considering the civil and criminal legal options available. To pursue the theme of tackling militant racism further, in Chapter three I provide an analysis of racist speech and literature. This involves analysing certain racist materials to see if they could possibly provide grounds for criminal prosecution under British criminal laws. This emphasis on racist literature and material derives from a perception that such material can be potentially damaging in a multi-cultural society, since it can help raise racial tensions between citizens, though it is important to recognise that there is no irrevocable proof that racist literature and materials are directly responsible for racist crime. As I discussed earlier when referring to material from Hounslow, and with regards to "Searchlight material", there does exist some anecdotal evidence that shows that in areas where there is a high incidence of racist material being distributed - racial crime is often on the increase. Chapters four and five are key chapters within my thesis. In Chapter four I outline two key proposals for legislative change, considering the practicalities and problems associated with making it an offence to stir up racial discrimination and/or hatred through the use of 'racially offensive' words. In Chapter five I develop this further, by refining the proposals and giving consideration to determining if, as amended, they are compatible with the (European) 'Convention on Human Rights'. 9-5 Having established my arguments for legislative change, I continue with Chapter six in which I look for a philosophical basis for the changes I propose - with consideration given to jurisprudential elements deriving from the works of John Stuart Mill, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and John Rawls. In Chapter seven I look at the Crime & Disorder Act 1998 and a new approach to tackling racist crime which enables courts to pursue a harsher sentencing policy where it is determined that there exists evidence of racial motivation or hostility. Chapter eight provides my concluding comment upon this research.