New Measures To Aid Minority Ethnic Police Recruitment

Policing Minister Vernon Coaker today published his Assessment of Minority Ethnic Recruitment, Retention and Progression in the Police Service.

The report confirms police forces are already doing good work to aid minority ethnic recruitment, retention and progression in the police, with minority ethnic officer representation in the police service doubling over the last ten years, but recognises that there is still more to do.

Vernon Coaker will drive forward initiatives to overcome barriers in minority ethnic recruitment, retention and progression in the police through his new Ministerial Steering Group which will deliver the recommendations in today's Assessment. The Assessment was completed following meetings with key policing partners and independent stakeholders.

Policing Minister Vernon Coaker said: "I am determined to work with the police service to offer fair and equal opportunities to all its members, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or background. We have already come a long way: over the last ten years minority ethnic officer representation in the police service has doubled. But the measures I am proposing in my assessment will go even further to ensure that the representation of minority ethnic officers in the police service continues to grow.

"We need a police service which represents the public - a representative police service will better understand and serve its local community and that is what I want us to work together to achieve."

The assessment identified existing good practice, including the Home Office through the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) has put in place national recruitment standards for all forces to prevent people with racist or discriminatory attitudes joining the police service. Candidates who do not pass the "respect for race and diversity" element do not get through, regardless of how well they do in other areas.

Other initiatives already underway include the Breaking Through Action Plan and Positive Action Events Toolkit which includes practical guidance aimed at improving minority ethnic representation in the police service. National initiatives aimed at progression in the police force include The High Potential Development Scheme (HPDS) which is a structured programme which equips officers with the skills to become police leaders and the National Senior Careers Advisory Service which aims to enhance leaders' capability and capability in order for officers to meet the growing leadership challenges at the top of the police force.

(JM)