NSW: Universities have failed in crime debate: professor = 3

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2001
NSW: Universities have failed in crime debate: professor = 3

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner David Madden said the police had made significant
progress in providing culturally competent services in the state.

There were no general links between ethnicity and crime, he said.

"Ethnicity is not the issue to me, crime is the issue," Mr Madden said.

"If it is important to the investigation of the crime then we pursue ethnicity as an
issue. If not, let's pursue it as a crime."

He said he could not deny the existence of youth gangs in various parts of Sydney,
but consideration should be given to hundreds of thousands of young people who were not
part of gangs and "simply hang around together" and really want a future.

President of the Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW, Chris Puplick, said the media and
political leaders had far more power than police in the debate on ethnicity and crime.

"Talk-back radio has led the charge in this debate. Talk-back hosts have talked repeatedly
about gangs, nominated religions and races as being responsible for crime in specific
areas, and they not only avoid correction - they remain unchallenged," he said.

"The same kind of power exists within our political leadership. They echo or reinforce
sentiments of racism in the state and across the country."

AAP as/apm/sb

KEYWORD: CRIME 3 SYDNEY

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