Campaigners accused successive governments of failing to make sufficient progress on tackling racism as they warned of a ten-year surge in faith-based hate crimes and four-year gridlock on the disparities people of colour grapple with in the criminal justice system, education, health, employment, and immigration.
The study, which has gained the backing of over 40 civil society organisations, found 47 per cent of children of colour are living in poverty, in comparison to 24 per cent of white children.
While police are 6.5 times more likely to subject Black children to strip searches, and 4.7 times more likely to strip search Black adults, than their white counterparts.
It is scandalous that in 2024 people of colour, children included, are facing these levels of poverty and deprivation. These are structural issues, and will need radical solutions to undo them.
Researchers also found Black people are 16 times more likely to be prosecuted, and Asian people 4 times more likely to be prosecuted than their white counterparts under controversial Joint Enterprise laws that effectively enable numerous people to be convicted for one offence.
The study drew attention to the fact British Bangladeshi women are over eight times more likely to be out of work than White British women, while women of colour are three times as likely as white men to be in work that relies on zero-hour contracts.
Alba Kapoor, of the Runnymede Trust, said: “As far-right thugs attack, harass and intimidate people of colour in the UK, there could be no more urgent time to address racial injustice.
“People of colour have faced a rowback on their civil and political rights over the past five years. From the inhumane changes to our asylum system, to the introduction of legislation that restricts protest rights and ramps up harmful policing powers, it is time to shift the dial.”
She said these issues had occurred in tandem with “deep-rooted inequalities” in relation to housing, education and wealth amid the cost of living crisis.
“It is scandalous that in 2024 people of colour, children included, are facing these levels of poverty and deprivation. These are structural issues, and will need radical solutions to undo them,” Ms Kapoor added.
The racist and Islamophobic violence unfolding on the streets of the UK highlight the failures of successive governments to make progress on institutional racism.
Source: Independent