Black Crime in London
Black crime? It’s the result of a white police force and white privilege.
In October 2015, the London Met decided to launch a “focused” stop-and-search system in “gang-ridden” neighbourhoods; ‘”focused” just being a subtle word for targeted. They used the excuse that knife crime was on the rise. However, racial profiling by the police force is nothing new to London’s citizens.
The ordinary stop-and-search method used by the Metropolitan Police is targeted enough as it is. Data released by the Met showed that in 2013 black people were 29 times more likely to be stopped in some parts of the country and those from an Asian background or other ethnic minority group were twice as likely to be stopped as white people. That figure is still high today with the latest figures released in 2015 showing that Black people are almost 18 times more likely to be stopped. Alongside this, the Home Office disclosed shocking figures, which revealed that Black people are three times more likely to be tasered. Does that sound ‘focused’ enough?
Tensions between black people and the police are fairly high as it is. The London riots are a perfect example of the eternally diminishing relationship with London’s black community and the police. Mark Duggan’s death was a trademark for the riots but the truth is, angry black youth wanted to stand in the face of injustice and rioting was the only way they knew how. Katharine Birbalsingh, a commentator for the Telegraph expanded on why the riots were about race, stating that often the concern of black youth is not addressed by government or society and instead is swept under the carpet, seen as unimportant.
There is and always has been a sense of mistrust between both parties, and stop and searches don’t help the situation in the slightest. Young people are becoming more aware of how they are viewed in society, perhaps even living up to the self-fulfilling prophecies. This is the expectation of a group or individual that directly or indirectly becomes true, simply because it is expected of them. Therefore when there is no sense of respect between two groups – sort of like a gang war – tensions will remain high with each group targeting each other, living up to their own expectations of each other.
So we’re left with a police force historically known for its institutional racism that it tries so hard to cover up, and a community that feels they don’t belong in their own country – a war between ‘us’ and ‘them’. Bridges need to be built, and police efforts need to be increased. The Metropolitan police needs to consider working with the black community, both the youth and the parents. The only way trust will be built is if it is earned. Community officers need to engage more with people they see on the street, even by a simple friendly chat. Workshops and active relations need to be regularly carried out, including going into schools with a high population of ethnic minorities.
Now, lets bring it back to the basics. The Met claim that their reason for targeted stop and searches is due to the increase in knife crime, but their own data shows that knife crime has been on the decrease ever since the summer of 2011. Data by StopWatch also shows that only 2 per cent of stops were for knife crime in the past year, while 62 per cent have been for drugs. These revealing statistics only build up the sense of suspicion of the police.
If the black community being targeted (and to an extent harassed) by the police isn’t enough, let’s not forget the huge sense of white privilege that still remains. White privilege generally allows white people to be the forefront of society. It allows white people to be socially and educationally advantaged because they are seen as the favoured race. It’s evident that white entitlement is more dangerous in the United States but that doesn’t mean to say it does not affect the lives of many black people here in UK. The reality is SOME white folk tend to steer as far away from this conversation as possible although it’s a necessary conversation to have.
I struggle to believe that black crime is as big of an issue that society makes it out to be. It does exist however. Common sense in the 21st Century would propose that we focus on the root of the problem and eradicate it from there rather than use methods that some would see as preventative.
White privilege does have a hand to play in black crime. Those at the most disadvantage in society are more inclined to turning to crime. White privilege pushes those of other ethnic groups down on the social ladder and prevents them from getting the best that one could achieve had they been born into white skin. It is sometimes the case that white people refuse to acknowledge their privilege, which only adds to the problem. Black people do not have access to the same level of education or work. In a country where equality between all is claimed, institutionalised discrimination is prominent.
The chances of a black student getting into Oxford or Cambridge is very unlikely in comparison to a white student, it inevitably becomes a chain affect. In the workforce a black person is not expected to achieve things, as highly as a white person, and in some circumstances these prejudices will withdraw the black person from consideration of the job. The Department for Work and Pensions found the unemployment rate for young people aged 16-24 is 19 per cent in 2014, but young black people are at an unemployment rate of 45 per cent. The figures also show the situation is worsening and ethnic minorities have missed out on the recent jobs boom as public sector jobs. The research tells the story of the inequality that multicultural Britain is facing.
Crime comes often as a result of a problem. Very often it is seen those committing crimes are in need of some sort of a result that they may feel will better their lives. Young black people are often expected to achieve lower than their colleagues. Some feel that society is fighting against them and when things seemingly come much harder to them than others, what are the options?
It is pathetic enough that we need to label it ‘black’ crime, defining it by the ethnic label. What makes it even more pitiable is that society does not try to strategise on how to help this community, particularly the young black men suffering at the hands of a whitewashed institution.
