AN Asian police officer has a new job 'patrolling' incidents of racial harassment in the Blackburn and Darwen area.

Solat Chaudhry, 28, has been with the force for five years and is currently stationed at Accrington.

But, from April, he will take up a new post as racial harassment officer for the Blackburn Racial Equality Council.

The post, together with an administrative assistant, has been made possible thanks to a £129,000 grant from the National Lottery Charities Board over three years. Mr Chaudhry, who is a graduate in history, politics and sociology, is also a founder member of the Black Police Officers' Association and will investigate complaints of racism in the area.

Last year, the REC dealt with 27 complaints of racial discrimination and 129 cases of racial incidents were reported in the borough.

Sixteen people were prosecuted under the Public Order Act.

Mr Chaudhry, speaking at the REC's second general council meeting, said he was looking forward to the challenge of fighting racism in the area.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph editor Peter Butterfield also gave a talk on the subject of race equality and the Press and answered questions.

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