Police chief on illegal immigration

Ceci was very interested in this one.
When she first asked how police would safeguard illegal immigrants both Clout and I laughed. An illegal immigrant wouldn't go up to the police was what we were both thinking.

This had followed a discussion on ethnic minorities generally, that there was a deep mistrust from some groups, most of which he said was cultural. There are parents who want to discipline their kids how they want to, he said and police do go into parent groups and explain that the British way is different. (A report of our research is coming out in September and some of our team interviewed the Somali community. I myself don't know enough. But then that's what our research is about; building bridges, creating greater transparency between the community and the service providers of that community)

Ceci rephrased her question and focused on the abuse of illegal immigrant children. What solution did the police have for that?

Often you don't know what a difficult question a question can be. Very often the most simple questions can be the toughest to answer. Illegal immigration is a political hot potato, controversial and inflammatory.

He said the police had set up (needed to set up? bugger, sorry) a Third Party Plan. What is needed, he said, is for the volutary sector to step in. The protection of these children can only be implemented with the support of voluntary groups.

I am sure volutary groups will jump at the chance. Ceci could barely contain herself! For me, I felt the seeds of change being planted in the ground.

The research we're doing is in its early stages. Pilots have been done in Hull and have been successful. There is a real possibility for change. Where people's voices can be heard and policy can reflect their, our needs.

I wish it could happen overnight, well well before the next general election....

We could light up the world if we stayed side by side (ok, I've deconstructed a line from a Take That song, who cares, I'm suddenly feeling optimistic!)