A Tory MP just blamed ‘certain communities’ for crime – I know exactly what that dog whistle means
The IndependentThe best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Discussing potential “remedies” for the phenomenon, Hunt takes aim at “politically correct mantras”, stating that we must “confront the possibility that a disproportionate number of crimes are committed by individuals from certain communities”. It doesn’t take much investigation to conclude that Hunt’s comments are likely racist – without naming a particular group, the phrase “certain communities” operates as a dog whistle, calling on readers to fill in the blanks with stereotypes about both migrants and people of colour being linked to crime. Hunt, who was elected MP in December’s general election, listed “tackling crime” as a key part of his platform during his campaign – praising Boris Johnson’s broader plans to “crack down” on crime and induct 20,000 new police officers. If Hunt really wants to interrogate the disproportionate policing of people of colour, he should turn his attention from “certain communities”, and perhaps instead focus instead on “certain” governments.
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Tory MP blames ‘certain communities’ for crime in his constituency
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