Race relations watchdogs from across the capital met in Harrow to swap ideas on how to combat prejudice.

The borough's racial harassment committee hosted an assembly of 27 racial harassment monitoring groups at the Civic Centre on Thursday, when the issue of partnership was centre stage.

The keynote address was given by Inspector Brett Lovegrove of the Metropolitan Police Partnership Department, who described the service's structural organisation for dealing with harassment.

From his involvement with the high profile Stephen Lawrence investigation, he was convinced the future of community policing lay in working closely with monitoring groups like Harrow's racial harassment committee, he said.

Jeffrey Lever, chairman of the committee said that a wide range of valid concerns had been raised at the forum, including:

o Suggestions that race relations groups should exploit the Internet to communicate with young people, encourage the reporting of race incidents and for the easy exchange of information.

o The need for different approaches to deal with overt "working class" racism and more subtle "middle class" prejudice.

o Accelerating the recruitment and advancement of police officers from ethnic minorities.

Mr Lever said he placed great value on the close relationship between his group and Harrow police, and his sentiments were echoed by Insp Phil Morgan, Harrow's outgoing borough liaison officer.

Also prominent at the meeting was the Mayor of Harrow, Keith Toms who welcomed the delegates and spoke of the importance of combating racism in a community.

"The meeting was an invaluable way for these groups to pool their expertise," said Mr Toms, who declared to fight against racism when he became mayor. "A healthy exchange of ideas can go a long way."

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