Several years ago, there were disturbing allegations of Institutional Racism amongst officers of the Council. A report was commissioned to uncover the truth. The report was completed three years ago and it sustained those allegations. The Conservative Administration of Damian White rejected demands for publication. Ray Morgon, the Leader of the Opposition, demanded the report be published. A campaign began led by the Romford Recorder who put in a Freedom of Information request.
For three years the Council resisted that Freedom of Information request.
The Romford Recorder1 has won a court case demanding publication of the report. The Council won’t publish and it continues to fight the Recorder. Institutional Racism is an insidious ‘Hate Crime’, which rots trust in the workplace and community.
“The council was ordered in August to disclose a 400-page dossier of evidence to the Romford Recorder within 42 days, after we won a legal action on behalf of our readers…Information Tribunal judges ruled that the council was not entitled to suppress the document as its contents were of overwhelming public interest.”2 (my emphasis)
HRA’s response is to continue resistance by hiring a King’s Counsel for an appeal.
The appeal is lame. Firstly, it wants to protect other councils, which is a specious justification and a waste of Havering taxpayers’ money.
Secondly, they claim the document is “historic” and therefore misleading. It’s historic because the council have fought tooth and nail to prevent publication.
Thirdly, the document is inflammatory, which “….risks fracturing community cohesion in the borough at a time when the national temperature is heightened.”3 Really?
Assuming the Recorder has faithfully recorded the Chief Executive’s justifications for the appeal, its chances of success are slim, and very expensive.
Council officers oppose publication because they fear reputational damage. However, it is Conservative and HRA politicians who are preventing publication, not officers.
Questions:
1) Are any perpetrators still employed by Havering?
2) Was compensation paid to any victims?
3) Did the council demand No Disclosure Agreements from any employee in relation to the findings of this report?
4) Were any councillors named in the report?
Notes
1 Havering Council seeks appeal over racism report ruling | Romford Recorder
2 loc.cit.
3 loc.cit
Politics in Havering 
Private Eye are keeping tabs on this case and reported it in the latest issue.
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Thank you for your comment.
Two things: 1) If the appeal is successful then rumours will explode; if not, 2) there will be an inquest.
Cover-ups are always a mistake.
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Must be affecting high-powered people or this would be common knowledge.
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Thank you for your comment
That is a distinct possibility or, it was so pervasive that the council would have its reputation trashed, which would be difficult for the CEO
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