Quarter of a million students reported for 'racism' by UK teachers in a decade

London, Sept 24 (ANI): UK teachers are reportedly being forced to report children as young as three to the authorities for using alleged 'racist' language under Race Relations Act 2000.

Munira Mirza, a senior advisor to London Mayor Boris Johnson, said schools were being made to spy on nursery age youngsters by the Race Relations Act 2000.

"More than a quarter of a million children have been accused of racism since it became law," the Daily Mail quoted Mirza, as saying.

Writing in Prospect magazine, she added: "The more we seek to measure racism, the more it seems to grow. Teachers are now required to report incidents of racist abuse among children as young as three to local authorities, resulting in a massive increase of cases and reinforcing the perception that we need an army of experts to manage race relations from cradle to grave."

The Act reportedly compelled 43,000 public authorities, including schools and churches, 'to promote good relations between persons of different racial groups'.

Teachers are allowed to report racism even if the alleged 'victim' was not offended or if the child does not understand what they were saying, the Act states.

Freedom of Information replies obtained by civil liberties group the Manifesto Club show that between 2002 and 2009, 280,000 incidents have been reported. (ANI)