It needed saying and it's a lovely story too!
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WALES ON LINE 30.10.08
Invite mix-up ends in police talk race shock
by Tomos Livingstone, Western Mail
IT IS not a mistake the National Black Police Association is likely
to repeat in a hurry.
As the organisation’s members arrived in York for their annual
conference, they expected to hear from former Shadow Home Secretary
David Davis on civil liberties, terrorism and police reform.
But a mix-up led to his near-namesake David Davies, the outspoken
Conservative MP for Monmouth, being invited instead.
Mr Davies, a special constable and member of the Home Affairs Select
Committee, delivered a robust speech suggesting the group might
itself be guilty of racism.
Some audience members became so enraged that Mr Davies was offered an
escort from the conference centre.
He told the NBPA – which is backing and funding Assistant
Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur’s race discrimination case against the
Metropolitan Police – it should check the truth of discrimination
claims before going to court.
And he said it was “human nature” for people to blame their race,
instead of their lack of talent, when rejected for promotion.
He told the conference: “To me, it is a shame that full membership of
the NBPA is open only to those of black, Asian or Middle Eastern origin.
“Tackling racism and unfair treatment of ethnic minorities is
something which is taken seriously by members of every race in the
police force and yet the clear implication is that white people do
not share this concern.
“It could be argued that this policy is explicitly racist in that it
bars white people, and implicitly racist in suggesting that white
people care less about racism than people of black, Middle Eastern,
Asian or African origin.”
He added: “It is human nature that if we are denied a promotion, we
find it easier to convince ourselves and others that our race,
religion, sex or sexual orientation is to blame, rather than our
abilities.”
NBPA general secretary Stafford Brooks said: “There was an invitation
sent out. The wrong David Davis turned up.
“Clearly he did say some controversial things and it was quite
upsetting for some of our members. But it was a very successful
conference as far as we are concerned.”
Mr Davies said afterwards he was asked if he wanted an escort to take
him from the building because he had so enraged some members of the
audience.
He said: “They asked me to come along and speak to them. I’m a member
of the Home Affairs Select Committee and a Special Constable and I
accepted.
“It seems they may have wanted the other David Davis but that’s not
my problem.
“They’re the NBPA – I would expect them to know the difference. If
I’m asked to going along there and give a speech that’s what I’m
going to do.
“They did look a bit surprised when I turned up and told them what I
was going to say.
“I don’t think they realised the full gravity of what it was going to
mean.”
Mr Davies stood by his criticisms, saying it was “unacceptable” and
“disgraceful” that white officers were excluded from the group.
“They seem to hold the view that only black and Asian people care
about racism and that’s not true,” he said.
The similarities between the two men’s names has caused difficulties
in the past. In 2006 some media organisations attributed comments on
Taser guns made by Mr Davies to Mr Davis, then a member of the
Conservative frontbench.
When he was first elected to Westminster in 2005, the Speaker decided
that Mr Davies should be known as “David TC Davies” to distinguish
him from Mr Davis – thus earning the Monmouth MP the nickname “Top Cat”.
Other Welsh politicians have fallen victim to the similar-name curse.
In 2004, the University of Edinburgh Conservative and Unionist
Association invited Conservative AM Laura Anne Jones to address them,
but ended up asking Labour AM Ann Jones instea
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Posted by Britannia Radio at 13:57