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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/23/theresa-may-police-diversity-ethnic-minorities
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| Theresa May complains about police diversity – but she can fix it | Theresa May complains about police diversity – but she can fix it |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Theresa May’s comments about the lack of diversity in the police service are welcome. The home secretary was right to point out, in her speech at the National Black Police Association (NBPA) conference, that police ranks do not reflect the communities they serve. However, she must also recognise that when she points the finger at the police authorities she points the finger at herself – because as head of the Home Office, she is personally responsible. The public should know what she is doing to hold the Metropolitan police commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, and the other chief constables to account. | Theresa May’s comments about the lack of diversity in the police service are welcome. The home secretary was right to point out, in her speech at the National Black Police Association (NBPA) conference, that police ranks do not reflect the communities they serve. However, she must also recognise that when she points the finger at the police authorities she points the finger at herself – because as head of the Home Office, she is personally responsible. The public should know what she is doing to hold the Metropolitan police commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, and the other chief constables to account. |
| At the moment in London, black and minority ethnic (BAME) officers make up 11.7% of the Metropolitan police but 40% of the city’s population. Officer numbers have risen only four percentage points since 2006. They also tend to stay in the lower ranks, which results in a classic “snowy peak” organisation. | |
| Related: Police forces much whiter than the communities they serve, analysis finds | Related: Police forces much whiter than the communities they serve, analysis finds |
| These recruitment, retention and progression issues will not be addressed until there are robust and sustainable diversity performance indicators put in place by the home secretary, in accordance with the principles set out by Sir Robert Peel, founder of the first police force: “The police are the public and the public are the police.” They are principles which have stood the test of time, improving policing at both an operational and strategic level. For example, during the Damilola Taylor murder inquiry I was asked to bring in some African-Caribbean officers to assist the homicide investigation team, in an attempt to break down the wall of silence in a community too fearful to point out suspects. They had an immediate impact, which eventually led to securing convictions in one of the most high-profile murder investigations of the time. | These recruitment, retention and progression issues will not be addressed until there are robust and sustainable diversity performance indicators put in place by the home secretary, in accordance with the principles set out by Sir Robert Peel, founder of the first police force: “The police are the public and the public are the police.” They are principles which have stood the test of time, improving policing at both an operational and strategic level. For example, during the Damilola Taylor murder inquiry I was asked to bring in some African-Caribbean officers to assist the homicide investigation team, in an attempt to break down the wall of silence in a community too fearful to point out suspects. They had an immediate impact, which eventually led to securing convictions in one of the most high-profile murder investigations of the time. |
| The Macpherson inquiry was published in February 1999 and contained recommendations to address diversity performance indicators, setting recruitment, retention and progression targets that were bespoke to the BAME population of each force area. I was chairman of the NBPA at the time, and at an unprecedented chief officers’ conference in April 1999 I worked with Jack Straw, then home secretary, and his deputy, Paul Boateng, to help set these national indicators. Progress was monitored by the Home Office through the Stephen Lawrence steering group, which was chaired by Straw. This ensured diversity was a priority and race was kept on the agenda, by looking at the processes and practices at force level; highlighting good practice and rectifying where BAME officers were being held back or not operating on a level playing field. | The Macpherson inquiry was published in February 1999 and contained recommendations to address diversity performance indicators, setting recruitment, retention and progression targets that were bespoke to the BAME population of each force area. I was chairman of the NBPA at the time, and at an unprecedented chief officers’ conference in April 1999 I worked with Jack Straw, then home secretary, and his deputy, Paul Boateng, to help set these national indicators. Progress was monitored by the Home Office through the Stephen Lawrence steering group, which was chaired by Straw. This ensured diversity was a priority and race was kept on the agenda, by looking at the processes and practices at force level; highlighting good practice and rectifying where BAME officers were being held back or not operating on a level playing field. |
| Related: Stop and search: the police must not revive this discredited tactic | Michael Shiner | Related: Stop and search: the police must not revive this discredited tactic | Michael Shiner |
| There were also opportunities to bring in positive action initiatives – ways in which to spot and nurture ethnic minority talent at the recruitment, retention and progression phases and to build their skills and confidence so that they could compete on merit with their white counterparts. This resulted in a dramatic increase in recruitment figures and the promotion of the first black chief constable, Mike Fuller, in Kent. | There were also opportunities to bring in positive action initiatives – ways in which to spot and nurture ethnic minority talent at the recruitment, retention and progression phases and to build their skills and confidence so that they could compete on merit with their white counterparts. This resulted in a dramatic increase in recruitment figures and the promotion of the first black chief constable, Mike Fuller, in Kent. |
| Unfortunately, this momentum was greatly reduced when subsequent home secretaries – Charles Clarke, David Blunkett and Jacqui Smith – slowly eroded the potency of, and then completely disbanded, the Stephen Lawrence steering group, and chief officers were increasingly let off the hook from monitoring their own diversity indicators. | Unfortunately, this momentum was greatly reduced when subsequent home secretaries – Charles Clarke, David Blunkett and Jacqui Smith – slowly eroded the potency of, and then completely disbanded, the Stephen Lawrence steering group, and chief officers were increasingly let off the hook from monitoring their own diversity indicators. |
| At the moment diversity is not seen as a priority, especially since 9/11 and the more recent budget cuts. In fact, chief officers are given carte blanche to monitor progress on recruitment, retention and progression without external scrutiny or sanctions from the Home Office, police and crime commissioners, or the College of Policing. This is like giving chief officers the opportunity to mark their own homework without accountability or transparency. It is no surprise that the police service is no closer to achieving a truly reflective organisation at all ranks. | At the moment diversity is not seen as a priority, especially since 9/11 and the more recent budget cuts. In fact, chief officers are given carte blanche to monitor progress on recruitment, retention and progression without external scrutiny or sanctions from the Home Office, police and crime commissioners, or the College of Policing. This is like giving chief officers the opportunity to mark their own homework without accountability or transparency. It is no surprise that the police service is no closer to achieving a truly reflective organisation at all ranks. |
| I call on Theresa May to bring back diversity personal indicators, scrutiny by the Home Office, police and crime commissioners and/or the College of Policing, and sanctions. Chief officers must be held to account. | I call on Theresa May to bring back diversity personal indicators, scrutiny by the Home Office, police and crime commissioners and/or the College of Policing, and sanctions. Chief officers must be held to account. |
| • This article was amended on 23 October 2015. It originally stated that the number of BAME officers in the Met had stagnated for over a decade but they have risen four percentage points since 2006. | • This article was amended on 23 October 2015. It originally stated that the number of BAME officers in the Met had stagnated for over a decade but they have risen four percentage points since 2006. |