UK needs integration, says study

Multi-culturalism in Britain has failed and should be replaced with a policy aiming for integration, researchers have concluded.

A study carried out by experts from the University of Leicester found people taken out of the "comfort zones" of their own communities integrated well.

Researchers put on a series of events including an Indian musical in a white working men's club.

A group of Pakistani women also put on an exhibition in a mainly Indian area.

Co-author of the report, Asaf Hussain, said: "We believe multi-culturalism has failed.

"It was a concept and a social re-engineering policy with the best of intentions, but with little debate at the grass roots. Britain's population has to become integrated."

The report also recommended putting citizenship on the National Curriculum and removing the link between country and religion so that British Muslim would become British Indian or British Pakistani.

Race relations expert Professor John Benyon from the University of Leicester said: "Rather than adopting knee-jerk reactions in terms of legislation, I feel the government should be taking a more considered approach."