How big is Liverpool's race problem?

By Mark Simpson
BBC north of England correspondent

Amid the thousands of words written and spoken about the murder of Anthony Walker, one chilling statement about racism stands out.

Some say they have dealt with racism every day of their lives

It was delivered by the aunt of the Merseyside teenager, and it was said at the spot where he was bludgeoned to death with an axe on Friday night.

Monica Binns, her eyes filled with tears, spoke of life as a black family living in Huyton, near Liverpool.

She said: "My sister has lived here for over 18 years and from day one we've had racist abuse - just going to the shop, on the bus, in school, there's been loads of racist abuse all along. We take it in our stride, because every day we go outside it's there in your face."

The big question raised by her remarks is: How typical is her family's experience?

Without doubt, racism is a problem on Merseyside, just like it is in many other parts of the UK. The debate is not about whether racism exists, but how widespread it is.

As ever, the answer depends on whom you talk to. Anecdotal evidence in Huyton points to a small but simmering racial problem for some time. Anthony had previously been picked on by a group of white males and taunted with racist shouts. Opinions vary on how isolated an incident this was.

Anti-racism rally

Most Liverpool politicians who have been interviewed in recent days have insisted Merseyside's racial problems are relatively minor. Figures from Merseyside police indicate that the number of hate crimes is falling - 421 between April and July this year compared to 442 in the same period last year.

There is a recognition that the problem - no matter how small - needs to be stamped out before it gets any worse. Hence, Tuesday night's anti-racism rally in Liverpool city centre.

Everyone agreed Anthony Walker was a special person

Cynics might point to the fact that it attracted only a couple of thousand people, compared to the hundreds of thousands who packed the same streets two months ago to celebrate Liverpool winning the European Cup.

The reality is, however, the rally was hastily-arranged and although the attendance was by no means massive, the sight of black and white people in one place, with one message, was extremely powerful.

What the murder of Anthony Walker has done is shine a bright light on the problem of racism. It has also robbed a family of a son, regarded by all who knew him as a very special young man.

The most striking evidence of this can be found outside the gates of McGoldrick Park in Huyton where he was killed. There is a sea of flowers, football shirts, scarves, candles, cards, poems and messages of sympathy.

One reads: "Although we didn't know you, we have learnt from you - red, yellow, black and white, they are all precious in God's sight."

Another hand-written card, tied to a Liverpool football shirt, says simply: "Anthony, so sorry we couldn't protect you."