GREATER Manchester's top cop is determined to stamp out prejudice and racism in a bid to beat crime.

Chief Constable David Wilmot made the pledge at the annual Rivington Lecture when he addressed invited guests on "Policing in Greater Manchester towards the year 2000".

And he warned of a growing underclass fuelled by a widened gap between the "haves" and the "have nots".

He said: "Isolation and prejudice is of course something that characterises our society, which is divided by a growing dispersion of earnings power.

"Clearly the relationship between the economic well being and the propensity to commit crime is established and accepted.

"Thus the problems of those in the community who are disillusioned and unable or unwilling to partake in society are the problems of those that have come to be known as the underclass."

The police chief went on to say: "Uncertainty about the future and employment, chronic relationship problems, isolation from the political process and criminality are all characteristics of social division.

"It is not simply a police problem, neither is it solely a government problem, but rather something we should all address.

"That is why I place such an emphasis on the stamping out of racism and prejudice to ensure that local communities can have faith in the fact that their voices can be heard by us and that they will be treated with fairness and equity."

Mr Wilmot also predicted a rise in protests from environmental groups trying to stop the building of new roads.

He added: "It is the level of commitment required and the subsequent use of scarce resources which concerns me as Chief Constable."

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