Cultural Diversity, Community Cohesion
- The Southall Experience

“Southall is a success not because of the government but in spite of it” Jasdev S Rai, Sikh Human Rights Group

Following the disturbances in Bradford, Oldham and Preston last year, the Government promoted an enquiry under Ted Cantle which was followed by a ministerial report on community cohesion

A policy called community cohesion is being developed by the government following the reports and the work of its own team in a department called the community cohesion team at the home office.

In the reports, Southall is called a success story. But the following questions stand out:

• Did the Cantle team really understand Southall and has the Home Office evaluated the causes of discontent properly in Bradford and Oldham?
• Is segregation the cause of problems or is the real cause a lack of a coherent national policy on cultural diversity?
• Did the advisors from strong cultural communities picked by the government fail their communities or does the institution of government impose restrictions on them?
• Does the Home Office patronise communities or does it really listen to them?
• Will community cohesion policy destroy Southall or enrich it?

Participants and speakers included community leaders, councillors, MP’s, NGO’s, Police, CRE, religious institutions, media and experts from the community.

Venue: Featherstone High School, Montague Way, Southall, Middx.
Held: 9th November, 2002