London - British officials yesterday dismissed claims that the Home Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, had made racist remarks by condemning crimes committed by people masquerading as gypsies or travellers.
Gypsy and traveller groups say they have complained to the Commission for Racial Equality and the police, saying Mr Straw's remarks could be seen as an incitement to racial hatred.
Mr Straw said on BBC West Midlands radio four weeks ago that "travellers have traded on the sentiment, they've masqueraded as law-abiding gypsies when many of them are not", and "Many of these so-called travellers seem to think that it's perfectly okay for them to cause mayhem in an area, to go burgling, thieving, breaking into vehicles . . .".