asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis explaining why no consultation took place with relevant external organisations in respect of territorial operations instruction I/86, "Best Practice Guidelines for Recording and Monitoring Racial Incidents" between February and July 1986 and as to what management measures are being taken to enforce and monitor the implementation of the minimum requirements and to encourage and monitor initiatives taken in line with the best practice options set out in appendix A.

I am assured by the Commissioner that consultations with community organisations following the issue of the Metropolitan police best practice guidelines for recording and monitoring racial incidents did take place during the period concerned and have done so since. Given the need for the guidelines to be implemented in a way which takes proper account of local circumstances, implementation is a matter for local decision in consultation with the community.