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The Observer reported over the weekend that Keith Jarrett, a senior police officer, has urged police to stop and search more people from ethnic minorities, in order to address inner-city gun and knife crime.

A few days ago, I noted the comment of a Times reader who thought that no one, these days, is racist. I'd challenge that reader to read through the following, reader recommended comments on the bbc's Have Your Say and still think that no one, these days, is racist (note that the number in square brackets is the number of times the comment has been recommended):

There have been dozens of teenagers stabbed and shot by other teenagers in the last year. Almost 100% fo [sic] both victims and assailants have been black.

Keith Jarret is responding to the facts, and isn't being blinded by the usual over-PC nonsense we normally have to put up with.

[Peter_Sym], Nottingham [264]

Can you imagine the reaction if a white cop had said this?

Jim, Bracknell [249]

The police should be able to stop and search without having to pander to politically correct policies driven by ethnicity. Such foolish policies have neutered the police force.

steve willis, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom [238]

Finally - someone who is not prepared to kowtow to the PC brigade so bereft of common sense and logic.

Dunkin, Lymington [193]

First of all well done Mr Keith Jarrett,You [sic] have made a brave choice,Even [sic] though you will be slated by nearly everyone.but i [sic] do believe a large Group [sic] of the population will agree with you..
What bugs me, is if a White person had said any comment like that, the Screams and Shouts of Racism [sic], would be on every front page or web site...

steve mitchell, newbury, United Kingdom [192]

It's an unfortunate truth that knives and guns are more likely to be found on black people. Our unwillingness to voice this issue and deal with it has directly has led to more and more violent deaths in the UK. When will the PC brigade realise that their unrealistic ideals are proving lethal? The Police [sic] are simply suggesting they use their resources in the most efficient and productive way possible. This may be less to do with color and more to do with imported culture but to the same effect.

Peter Webley, London [175]

I have a lot of Friends [sic] who have teenage white sons, three of them have been mugged for their phones. Each time the muggers were black each time the victims white.

Coincidence?

Gary Rush, london, United Kingdom [165]

I would have thought, that you search where the gun crimes occur, if it happens to be within a mainly ethnic area, hard luck.

It is clear that gun crimes in some inner cities are mainly ethnic groups. I wonder if someone had said that searches were happening in many areas, both white and ethnic, if the furore would be the same. To often these days, ethnic groups seem to use the race angle, to cover the truth within their communities.

Ian Wright, southport, United Kingdom [148]

Tags — Society