WE have looked the other way for too long. When the Lawrence Report exposed terrible examples of racism in London, most people in North Yorkshire took little notice. That sort of thing was an inner city disease, people assured themselves, not something that happened here.

Such misplaced complacency has merely given succour to those committing hate crimes on our doorstep.

The depressing truth is that a very real, very disturbing problem of bigotry exists in North Yorkshire. The small size of the county's ethnic population only makes it more visible and, if anything, more vulnerable to abuse.

Tonight, one Asian family tells of being attacked verbally and physically by racists in York. They have been forced to live regimented lives to minimise the risk of further abuse. Another such family has quit York altogether before suffering violence at the hands of the thugs.

Tourists, too, are a target. Three German students were robbed at knifepoint in York in August.

But racism is not the only brand of hatred on our streets. Any minority is at risk. Disabled people are the target of verbal abuse. Homosexual couples have been threatened and attacked.

These hate crimes are intolerable. They bring shame on our city and county.

That is why the police initiative launched today is so welcome. It aims to promote tolerance and offer greater support to victims of the bigots.

The taskforce should begin by improving the confidence of minority groups in the forces of law and order. One estimate suggests that half of all hate crimes go unreported. Until victims feel more able to speak out about their suffering, we will never gain a proper idea of the scale of the problem.

We all have a part to play in the solution. Each one of us must tackle ignorance and prejudice wherever we see it. That is the only way to ensure that North Yorkshire matures into a fully tolerant, welcoming and multicultural society.