Stephen Lawrence Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Home Office

Stephen Lawrence

John Bercow Excerpts
Tuesday 24th April 2012

(12 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts

Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.

Each Urgent Question requires a Government Minister to give a response on the debate topic.

This information is provided by Parallel Parliament and does not comprise part of the offical record

None Portrait Several hon. Members
- Hansard -

rose

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
- Hansard - -

Order. I am keen to accommodate the interest of colleagues, but doing so requires brevity, both in questions and in answers.

Lord Evans of Rainow Portrait Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Does my hon. Friend agree that it is vital for public confidence in the Metropolitan police that any instances of racist behaviour by individuals in the organisation should be dealt with and be seen to be dealt with?

--- Later in debate ---
James Brokenshire Portrait James Brokenshire
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

As my hon. Friend will know, the Government are taking a number of different steps to create greater professionalism within the police service with the establishment of the new police professional body to lead work to develop professionalism and set standards for the service. Obviously, we will also look to the introduction of police and crime commissioners later this year to provide more direct accountability between the public and the police and to ensure that the police remain in close connection with the communities they seek to serve.

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
- Hansard - -

Patience is rewarded for the representative of Bermondsey and Old Southwark.

Simon Hughes Portrait Simon Hughes (Bermondsey and Old Southwark) (LD)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Will my hon. Friend confirm that he has got the message from London MPs and from others that although we absolutely applaud the new commissioner’s robust attitude, everybody now wants the new Mayor, whoever that will be, and the commissioner to refer independently for assessment the continuing racist allegations as regards the Lawrence case as well as other racist allegations? Does he agree that the best thing the Government can do is to ensure that every one of our 43 police forces in England and Wales better reflects the community it serves, particularly in the ethnic mix at the highest level?