Human rights fears of black population

More than three quarters of black people do not believe their human rights areas equally protected compared with their white compatriots, according to a poll commissioned by MPS and peers.

Parliament’ s joint committee on human rights has published research it comm issioned ahead of an evidence session today about the level of protection for black rights in the UK.

The results come following a series of Black Lives Matter protests across the country in recent months sparked by the 25 May killing of George Floyd, a black man in the US state of Minnesota, when a police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes during an arrest.

The poll found more than 75% of black people felt they did not have the same human rights protection as white citizens, citing reasons such as “unequal treatment in education”, employment opportunities and crime.

The study found that older people were more likely to believe their human rights were equally protected compared with younger age groups.

Most respondents, 85%, also did not believe that as a black person they would be treated the same by the police as a white person.

When asked what actions could have a positive impact on black rights, the most popular suggestion was having more black leaders in roles such as MPS, councillors, on boards, as school governors and chief executives.