Britain risks a repeat of the grooming gang scandal or last summer’s riots if police do not share the ethnicity or immigration status of dangerous suspects, it was warned last night.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp responded to concerns that Warwickshire police ‘covered up’ the backgrounds of two Afghan asylum seekers involved in the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton.
The Mail on Sunday yesterday reported the force advised councillors and officials not to reveal the background of the suspects for fear of ‘inflaming community tensions’.
It is believed they thought unrest would break out like that seen in Epping, Essex, where an Ethiopian asylum seeker staying in a hotel was charged with trying to kiss a 14-year-old schoolgirl.
Warwickshire Police has defended its position, saying it was following national policy in not sharing ethnicity or immigration status.
