BRITAIN'S first and only black Euro MP, Lancashire based Mark Hendrick , has today welcomed the findings of the Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry report.

Mr Hendrick, who says he has himself suffered from racism while growing up in Salford, has hailed the proposals as a blueprint which could improve race relations across Europe.

The report proposed laws to make the police and the entire public sector liable to criminal charges for incidences racial prejudice and was announced by Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw

Mr Hendrick welcomed plans to combat racism in the police and other public bodies and to confront racism in schools.

The Labour MEP said: "I welcome the recommendations and the fact that the home secretary has declared that improving relations between police and ethnic minorities should become a major priority.

"As someone who has experienced racism first hand in the UK, and who is committed to combating it in Europe on Britain's behalf, if we can significantly improve race relations and awareness in the UK, it could serve as a model for the whole of the EU.

"The constant racist agenda of the extreme right parties on the continent must be combated.

"Investigations against the police should be carried out independently rather than by the police themselves.

"I welcome this because there have been attempts in the past to cover up incidents of this type.

Mr Hendrick's Lancashire Central constituency covers a vast swathe of the county between Blackpool to the west and Pendle and Burnley and also includes the Ribble Valley.

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