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Lawrence Steering Group announced
23/12/1999
The battle to root out racism took a further step forward today when Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace announced details of the steering group which will oversee implementation of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry's recommendations in Scotland.
Mr Wallace announced in July that the Scottish Executive had accepted almost all of Sir William Macpherson's 70 recommendations. The steering group will ensure the Executive, the Crown Office and the police implement them.
The Group will be chaired by the Deputy First Minister and will include representatives from :
Crown Office
Scottish Executive Justice Department
Commission for Racial Equality (CRE)
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS)
Association of Scottish Police Superintendents
Scottish Police Federation
The Group also includes members who are there in an independent capacity and these are:
Jeannie Felsinger
Maxine Iffla
Raj Jandoo
Martin MacEwen
Bashir Maan
Robina Qureshi
Lawrence Ramadas
Nabeed Ramzan
Jonathan Squire
Mr Wallace said:
"The murder of Stephen Lawrence was a horrific event which forced us all to think again about race relations across the United Kingdom. Our acceptance of the overwhelming majority of the recommendations in the Macpherson Report showed our willingness to tackle the problem of racism in Scotland and the establishment of this steering group is another big step forward.
"The membership of the steering group reflects a wide range of interests in the fight against racism and follows extensive consultation with the Commission for Racial Equality. The expert group will hold to account all those responsible for implementing the Lawrence inquiry recommendations. I am confident that a great deal of constructive progress will begin when the group meets for the first time in the new year."
BACKGROUND
1. The report into the inquiry of the murder of Stephen Lawrence was published by Sir William Macpherson in February and concluded that the investigation was marred by a combination of professional incompetence, institutional racism and a failure of leadership by senior officers.
2. The report made 70 recommendations. The Home Secretary published an action plan to take forward the recommendations in England and Wales on 23 March and the Justice Minister published a separate action plan for Scotland on 20 July. The Minister announced that a steering group would be set up to oversee the plan's implementation.
Biographical details of independent members:
Jeannie Felsinger is a Complainant Aid Worker at Grampian REC, assisting people to take forward complaints including racial harassment and racial crime. Her work covers Grampian, Highlands and Islands, bringing experience of an area with a smaller minority ethnic population to the Group.
Maxine Iffla is a project worker for Stirling Communities for Safety. She supports victims of crime, liasing with police, housing, and women's aid organisations. She is a member of the management committee of Victim Support.
Raj Jandoo is a practising Advocate.
Martin MacEwen is Vice Principal of Edinburgh College of Art and head of the Scottish Ethnic Minority Research Unit. Dr MacEwen is also member of the Race Equality Advisory Forum.
Bashir Maan is the Convenor of Strathclyde Police Joint Board.
Robina Qureshi is the Director of Positive Action in Housing, which works with black and minority ethnic communities and housing providers to secure safe and affordable housing. She is also a member of the Race Equality Advisory Forum.
PC Lawrence Ramadas is a serving officer with Strathclyde Police. He was involved in a claim for racial discrimination against Strathclyde Police before rejoining the force at the invitation of the Chief Constable.
Nabeed Ramzan is from Dunblane and is a recent graduate of Napier University, where he was founder and President of the Napier University Asian Society.
Jonathan Squire is the Convenor of the Ethnic Minority Law Centre in Glasgow.
News Release: SE1779/1999
23 Dec 1999