Sarwar backing over race cop row
A SENIOR SNP backbencher last night backed Anas Sarwar in his row with Scotland’s police union.
Alex Neil said it was “unfortunate to say the least” that Scottish Police Federation general secretary Calum Steele had accused the Labour MSP of “playing the race card” over stop-and-search figures.
Several organisations representing ethnic minorities also raised concerns about the “confrontational nature and dismissive tone” of Steele’s comments.
The furore erupted after Sarwar highlighted figures suggesting Scots from an Asian background are four times more likely than white people to be stopped and searched.
Steele said claims of racist bias in stop and search were “entirely false”. He pointed out that the author of the research, Professor Susan McVie, said the figures should be treated with caution. Yesterday, she admitted the original report contained errors.
Steele said of Sarwar: “Playing the daft laddie doesn’t suit you.”
A spokesman for the Muslim Council of Scotland said: “The confrontational nature and dismissive tone of the response from senior policemen is deeply disappointing.
“Institutional bias is real and Police Scotland cannot assume they are immune.”
Former health secretary Neil said Steele’s comments “give the impression of complacency about the problem of racism”.
But Steele said: “Anas Sarwar occupies a position of considerable advantage in public life. That does not give him a free hand to spout insidious nonsense free from challenge.”