Adebayor's started so well for Man City
"Black is the new Sex"
..Not my words but the words of Karl in Bradford who told me today that the fact that we discussed stop and search encouraged hatred against black people. Raj has posted below along similar lines...
From Raj:
" Radio 5 turning into 'bubble gum' radio. Always looking to discuss matters which involve the ethnic minority to push up rating, in doing so whipping up hatred towards minority communities. This also transforms into physical attacks on the street against vulnerable Asian and Black people. Victoria's morning programme should show more responsibility when debating issues susch as stop & search powers which primarily targets the minority."
I'm really happy for you to question the decisions we make cos there's no way we get things right all the time and it's healthy to debate with you what you do and don't want to hear on the radio.
There are so many contentious issues out there - I hope people aren't saying that we can't discuss them for fear of a tiny minority behaving irrationally.
I invited Karl to our editorial meeting which we have every morning first thing. I really hope he comes.
UPDATE - 8.55am Jan 31
An update on Karl - he's keen to come in and take part in our editorial meeting, will let you know when we've sorted out all the arrangements...
As a police officer serving in Scotland I would like to correct Raj in his assumption that 'Stop and search powers......target the minority'. During my time in the police I have stopped and searched on thousands of occasions, less than 1% of which have involved persons of an ethnic background. The reason for this statistic being that I target those involved in crime which in this area tends to be white Scots. If I worked in an area where the vast majority of crime was committed by persons who happened to be black or Asian would I have Raj's support in Stop and Searching them...I suspect Not.
Cannot agree with "Karl",the concentration on stopping Asian and particularly Afro Carribeans is because the FACT is that they are responsible,as a group,for 50 % of crime in the UK,but make up about 12% of the population. Sorry,but facts can be stubborn things... Mike
The trouble will be that when Karl does turn up to your editorial meeting he will believe that you are behaving differently because he is there and that you have never not discussed race as a factor before. I have to admire your openness in inviting him to attend but I got the impression hen I heard him call in that his mind was already made up and anything you say/show/do will not change that. Sadly this is part of the issue with topics like this. People will always believe what they want to believe, regardless of how many facts and statistics you show them, as demonstared by the comments from Mark and Mike.
I have to agree with the Mark.
I suspect that Raj never would though.
I'm reminded of the time a few years back when Paul Condon made his Statement about Black Youths and Street Crime in London "racist " went up the cry depite all the indicators showing that he was correct.
Hi Pete
Thanks for posting. It would be difficult for us ALL to behave differently though wouldn't it? I hope everyone turns up with an open mind ( and plenty of ideas) and maybe both Karl and myself can report back here on the blog.
Victoria
I am all for stopping crime but I do not want to be stopped or search by anybody, take great offense to it. I have never committed a crime, never broken the law and my reward is to be stopped and searched every time I leave my house. I am not a criminal and don’t want to be treated like one. I agree with Karl in Bradford to some extent, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ does sell race and anti-immigration just read talking point or listen to programs on the ´óÏó´«Ã½, it does come across as black is bad, immigration is terrible and white is good and the British public is obsess with it. Where are the programs or talking point that highlights the positive contribution of black and immigration to the Great Britain? If I read the ´óÏó´«Ã½ site long enough even I start believing I must be a criminal.
The trouble will be that when Karl does turn up to your editorial meeting he will believe that you are behaving differently because he is there and that you have never not discussed race as a factor before. I have to admire your openness in inviting him to attend but I got the impression when I heard him call in that his mind was already made up and anything you say/show/do will not change that. Sadly this is part of the issue with topics like this. People will always believe what they want to believe, regardless of how many facts and statistics you show them, as demonstrated by the comments from Mark and Mike.