As part of the Institute of Race Relations' ongoing research into reception
arrangements for asylum seekers across Europe, it publishes today a report
that challenges NASS to review its procedures and policies vis a vis racial
harassment or face an onslaught of legal challenge and litigation. The
report, 'Crimes of NASS' suggests that the UK government's failure to
protect asylum seekers from racial harassment is open to challenge on three
counts. NASS has failed

- to monitor and record racial incidents, as recommended in the Macpherson
report
- to implement dispersal in a way that promotes good race relations, in
breach of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act.
- to protect asylum seekers from racial violence in dispersal areas, making
it liable to litigation under the Human Rights Act.

Author Liz Fekete said today: 'It is scandalous that, after the killing of
Firsat Dag in Glasgow, and serious racist attacks in Newcastle and Hull,
NASS has not reviewed its approach. This report should be NASS's wake-up
call.'

Read a shortened version of 'The Crimes of NASS' on the IRR website at:
http://www.irr.org.uk/nass

The full report is available, price five pounds including postage and
packing, from the IRR. The full report will also appear as part of issue 38
of the IRR European Race Bulletin. An individual subscription to the
quarterly Bulletin costs £10 per year.

Contact: IRR, 2-6 Leeke Street, Kings Cross Road, London WC1X 9HS, UK. Tel:
+44 (0)20 7837 0041. Fax: +44 (0)20 7278 0623. Email: [email protected]

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