I'VE become utterly fascinated at the way taxpayers' money is being thrown about by the lumbering juggernaught that is Worcestershire Racial Equality Council.

Suspensions, investigations, claims and counter claims. People are accused, cleared, resigning. Then the man in charge collapses, eventually quits to take a new job... and receives a £15,000 pay-off.

If this were not enough, another big cheese in this outrageous quango agrees that the payment - which has, incidentally, been hiked up to double the original offer - should be handed over "as the only way forward."

I must remember that when my own pay is reviewed. Hmm... the best way forward. Yes... it's a good line.

Mohammed Aslam - who was employed under the grandiose title of chief executive - has declined to comment on his departure. And chairman Dan Wicksteed has refused to make observations on the amount paid.

Oh, well that's all right then, everything's done and dusted, it's time to move on to the next item on the agenda.

Er, excuse me. I'm afraid this is not good enough.

Problems with WREC have multiplied since last year when the organisation was investigated by the Big Lottery Fund. Dr Aslam was cleared over project management fees he had pocketed.

He was then suspended, investigated and cleared over claims he falsified care work figures before equality manager Rosemin Najmudin claimed she was sacked for exposing staff laziness.

The Worcester News faithfully and impartially reported these events. But in February, Dr Aslam claimed the paper was "Paki-bashing". Despite a restrained request by the Editor, he refused to withdraw the comment.

And according to our report on Monday, Dr Aslam repeated the allegation that the Worcester News is racist.

This is, of course, preposterous drivel.

However, the main concern here is the cost of this farce to the public purse. Dr Aslam is, in the main, employed by the taxpayer.

And like anyone else in this position - such as a member of Parliament, for instance - he is a servant of the people.

In fact, he is merely an employee... and as such, is accountable to the folk who pay his wages. And that's you and me. So how about an explanation, Dr Aslam?

Ah, more of our

friendly customs

BACK in Britain after a trip to Spain, the first reminder of reality hits you like a bovver boot in the face.

"Assaults on our staff will not be tolerated," reads not one, but two notices on the wall near passport control.

Yup. Home-grown violence is the one export at which Britain excels.

As if to test the notion that such behaviour is unacceptable, four bright sparks in straw hats swagger up to one of the desks. The rule is one person at a time. They are also clutching cigarettes (against the rules) and one tries to dial his mobile phone (ditto).

Across the way, a male official of some sort watches them with a mixture of concern and nervousness.

It doesn't come to anything. Despite the posturing, they slink back to the line when told, put out their fags, and before he can say "I'm at the airport", the plank with the mobile turns off his toy the second time of asking.

Supervisor chappie relaxes a little, and casts his ever-watchful eyes along the ranks of well-roasted sun addicts who have returned with a Boeing 747 of a bump to this land of rain and grey skies.

Fortunately, there was no aggro this time. But loutish behaviour is never far away in this country these days. And that is presumably why Britain is the only place I know that needs warning signs pasted up at points of entry.

Welcome to Roasted Vasey. You'll never leave.

I can't handle such juvenile behaviour

HERE'S another thing. Arriving in Blighty from our recent jaunt to Spain, waiting for our luggage to emerge on the revolving wotsit, I was astounded to see a small child leap over the contraption, narrowly missing treading on cases, and then throwing himself headlong through the throng of weary travellers.

A man next to me looked at me, grinning broadly, presumably searching for some sign of approval along the lines of "hey, boys will be boys".

I maintained an expression hewn in granite.

But perhaps we shouldn't blame the kids too much - especially when there are "adults" like that in circulation, tacitly egging them on.