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| Theresa May condemns lack of black officers in police forces | Theresa May condemns lack of black officers in police forces |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The police in England and Wales do not represent the communities they serve and must increase ethnic diversity, the home secretary has said. | The police in England and Wales do not represent the communities they serve and must increase ethnic diversity, the home secretary has said. |
| The proportion of black and Asian officers is "simply not good enough", Theresa May said, adding that stop and search reforms "must continue". | The proportion of black and Asian officers is "simply not good enough", Theresa May said, adding that stop and search reforms "must continue". |
| But critics say it is hard to recruit BME officers while funds are being cut. | But critics say it is hard to recruit BME officers while funds are being cut. |
| Police forces have also disputed figures quoted by Mrs May suggesting they have no black officers. | |
| During her speech, Mrs May quoted Home Office data suggesting four forces - Cheshire, Durham, Dyfed-Powys and North Yorkshire - had no black officers. | During her speech, Mrs May quoted Home Office data suggesting four forces - Cheshire, Durham, Dyfed-Powys and North Yorkshire - had no black officers. |
| Both Durham Constabulary and Dyfed-Powys Police say that is not the case. | Both Durham Constabulary and Dyfed-Powys Police say that is not the case. |
| 'Numbers game' | |
| Det Con Waheed Mughal, Chair of Durham Black and Asian Police Association said: "I can confirm that the force does have a British Black Caribbean officer who serves in the north of the county as well as at least 19 other black and minority ethnic officers." | |
| Julia Mulligan, police and crime commissioner for North Yorkshire, said the force has had to recruit BME officers from other areas of the UK because of small numbers within the force's area. | |
| The four forces do have officers from other ethnic minorities, according to the most recent Home Office figures, which are are based on information officers volunteer themselves. | The four forces do have officers from other ethnic minorities, according to the most recent Home Office figures, which are are based on information officers volunteer themselves. |
| But Mrs May told the National Black Police Association conference that the 43 forces in England and Wales are not racially representative of the communities they serve. | But Mrs May told the National Black Police Association conference that the 43 forces in England and Wales are not racially representative of the communities they serve. |
| She said there are no ethnic minority chief constables, adding that it is "not good enough". | She said there are no ethnic minority chief constables, adding that it is "not good enough". |
| She also challenged police over the number of female officers, who currently make up 28% of the police workforce - despite representing 51% of the population. | She also challenged police over the number of female officers, who currently make up 28% of the police workforce - despite representing 51% of the population. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Danny Shaw, BBC home affairs correspondent | By Danny Shaw, BBC home affairs correspondent |
| Although a dispute about the precise figures on ethnic diversity may have blunted Theresa May's message the broad point she is making remains: for police to have the confidence of the public they must be more racially representative of the communities they serve. | Although a dispute about the precise figures on ethnic diversity may have blunted Theresa May's message the broad point she is making remains: for police to have the confidence of the public they must be more racially representative of the communities they serve. |
| There have been improvements since the Macpherson report following the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1999 branded the Metropolitan Police as "institutionally racist". | There have been improvements since the Macpherson report following the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1999 branded the Metropolitan Police as "institutionally racist". |
| However, targets for BME officers set after the report have not been met. | However, targets for BME officers set after the report have not been met. |
| Although the proportion of new BME officers appears to be rising, recruitment is not at a high enough level - because of budget cuts - to make a significant difference. | Although the proportion of new BME officers appears to be rising, recruitment is not at a high enough level - because of budget cuts - to make a significant difference. |
| Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe wants a change to the law which would, in effect, allow forces to impose BME recruitment quotas. | Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe wants a change to the law which would, in effect, allow forces to impose BME recruitment quotas. |
| The home secretary is against that and there is little wider appetite for such a fundamental reform. | The home secretary is against that and there is little wider appetite for such a fundamental reform. |
| 'Not good enough' | 'Not good enough' |
| Rob Beckley, from the College of Policing, said the organisation was trying to improve the "recruitment, development, progression and retention of BME officers and staff", but "there are no quick fixes". | Rob Beckley, from the College of Policing, said the organisation was trying to improve the "recruitment, development, progression and retention of BME officers and staff", but "there are no quick fixes". |
| "This will be a long and sustained journey," he added. | "This will be a long and sustained journey," he added. |
| But Steve White, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said it was difficult for forces to recruit officers from ethnic minorities while chief constables were having to make savings. | But Steve White, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said it was difficult for forces to recruit officers from ethnic minorities while chief constables were having to make savings. |
| Jack Dromey, Labour's shadow police minister, said some forces will not be able to recruit until 2019 "at the earliest" due to cuts. | Jack Dromey, Labour's shadow police minister, said some forces will not be able to recruit until 2019 "at the earliest" due to cuts. |
| "The police must act, but it is extremely difficult for forces to improve diversity and to carry on protecting communities whilst the Tories continue on their mission to slash police funding and hollow out the police service." | "The police must act, but it is extremely difficult for forces to improve diversity and to carry on protecting communities whilst the Tories continue on their mission to slash police funding and hollow out the police service." |
| Franstine Jones, from the National Black Police Association, said forces "need to recognise their black talent". | Franstine Jones, from the National Black Police Association, said forces "need to recognise their black talent". |
| "I think police forces need to recognise their black talent, because you have got officers who have got the skills, who have got the knowledge, it is just that in the police service they don't get the opportunity to be developed," she said. | "I think police forces need to recognise their black talent, because you have got officers who have got the skills, who have got the knowledge, it is just that in the police service they don't get the opportunity to be developed," she said. |
| 'Knee-jerk reaction' | 'Knee-jerk reaction' |
| Mrs May's speech in Birmingham also criticised claims that a rise in knife crime has been caused by a reduction in police stop and searches, calling it a "knee-jerk reaction on the back of a false link". | Mrs May's speech in Birmingham also criticised claims that a rise in knife crime has been caused by a reduction in police stop and searches, calling it a "knee-jerk reaction on the back of a false link". |
| Changes were made after figures showed only about 10% of searches had led to an arrest, with black people six times more likely to be stopped than white people. | Changes were made after figures showed only about 10% of searches had led to an arrest, with black people six times more likely to be stopped than white people. |
| It comes after Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said he believed a rise in knife crime in London could be connected to large reductions in stops and searches by his officers. | It comes after Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said he believed a rise in knife crime in London could be connected to large reductions in stops and searches by his officers. |
| But Mrs May said it is "simply not true that knife crime is rising because the police are no longer stopping and searching those carrying knives". | But Mrs May said it is "simply not true that knife crime is rising because the police are no longer stopping and searching those carrying knives". |
| How diverse is your local police force? To what extent should the police reflect the communities they serve? Email your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | How diverse is your local police force? To what extent should the police reflect the communities they serve? Email your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist today. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist today. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |