Most believe racism in Britain has got worse

MOST people believe the problem of racism in society is worse now than it was almost three decades ago when black teenager Stephen Lawrence was stabbed to death.

The murder of the 18-year-old, who died at the hands of racist thugs in Eltham, south-east London, in 1993, led to an overhaul of the Metropolitan Police Service which was branded “institutionally racist”.

But Britons fear the scourge of racism has not subsided despite widespread fury over Stephen’s killing and other high-profile race hate crimes.

An exclusive poll for the Daily Express revealed 57 per cent of people now believe racism is a serious problem, compared to 55 per cent who thought it was a serious problem back in 1993.

And as the Black Lives Matter movement has sparked a review of statues more than half of people condemn protesters defacing the figure of Sir Winston Churchill in Westminster and 74 per cent said we must not hide our past.

Almost a third think people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds have poorer job prospects than white people.

Biased

But 62 per cent admit the NHS and transport network would collapse if the UK did not have BAME people working in those sectors.

More than a quarter of people surveyed by OnePoll believe UK police forces are institutionally racist compared to 53 per cent who believe the problem is worse in the US, where 61 per cent of Britons think Donald Trump is biased against BAME groups.

Almost twothirds believe the

US President has handled the Black Lives Matter protests poorly following the murder of George Floyd in police custody.

The poll also revealed 62 per cent of Britons think BAME people are more likely to be stopped and searched.

Police chiefs admit confidence in the police is lower among black communities.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, who leads on diversity for police chiefs, said: “We recognise we have been far too slow to increase diversity and we know there is still a long way to go so that policing is truly reflective of the communities we serve.The slower rate of progress in recruiting black police officers is likely to reflect the fact that confidence in police has historically been lower among black people than white or Asian – although the latest statistics show an improving picture.”

Meanwhile, the governing bodies of more than 80 of the nation’s leading sports – including the Rugby Football Union, Lawn Tennis Association, British Cycling, UK Athletics and England Netball published a statement yesterday declaring that they must do more to tackle racism. The Sport and Recreation Alliance said: “There is no easy solution and change will require a consolidated approach both from within and outside of our sector. It is time to face awkward questions, to become involved in uncomfortable conversations and to hold ourselves to account. Sport and recreation has an influential role to bring about meaningful change and this period has rightly led the sector to reflect, listen, question, learn and openly discuss how to take positive action. It is acknowledged that up to this point, we have not done enough. It is time to confront racism and inequality that exists across sport, from grassroots participation