HOME SECRETARY and Blackburn MP Jack Straw has come under fire from his own local council leader as it was revealed that police are probing comments he made about travellers.

Mr Straw is to be reported to the police for branding travellers as crooks who thought they had a licence to commit crime and act unlawfully.

In an interview on a BBC radio station in the West Midlands Mr Straw said many travellers "masquerade" as traditional travellers to trade on sentimentally and are often involved in burgling, thieving, breaking into cars and urinating in the street.

But the Labour leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Malcolm Doherty said Mr Straw had been unwise to speak out.

He said: "I don't think it is a sensible thing to generalise about these things.

"Over the years bands of travellers have been a nuisance around the area but I don't think we can make sweeping generalisations. I don't think Jack should have said what he has."

Gypsy activists have accused Mr Straw of racism and referred his comments to the West Midlands Police who are investigating whether he breached the Public Order Act.

Susan Alexander, national coordinator for the Friends, Families and Travellers Advice and Information Unit said the Home Secretary should not attempt to draw a distinction between Romany Gypsies and other travellers.

Ms Alexander said she would be making a formal complaint to the police.

A police spokeswoman said: "We are bound to investigate any allegations made to us."

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