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| Met discrimination inquiry begins | Met discrimination inquiry begins |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An inquiry into discrimination in the UK's biggest police force is to begin. | An inquiry into discrimination in the UK's biggest police force is to begin. |
| The Metropolitan Police Authority Race and Faith review was set up by London Mayor Boris Johnson after a string of race claims against the force. | The Metropolitan Police Authority Race and Faith review was set up by London Mayor Boris Johnson after a string of race claims against the force. |
| Serving officers from ethnic minorities will give evidence both in public and in private. | Serving officers from ethnic minorities will give evidence both in public and in private. |
| Former commissioner Sir Ian Blair is also likely to appear, while a former senior officer who has accused Sir Ian of racism is due to give evidence. | Former commissioner Sir Ian Blair is also likely to appear, while a former senior officer who has accused Sir Ian of racism is due to give evidence. |
| Former assistant commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, who publicly accused Sir Ian of racism, will speak to the inquiry in private. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme | |
| Mr Ghaffur later withdrew the allegation and has left the Met. | Mr Ghaffur later withdrew the allegation and has left the Met. |
| The inquiry will take evidence from the Metropolitan Black Police Association (MBPA), which has been highly critical of the force. | The inquiry will take evidence from the Metropolitan Black Police Association (MBPA), which has been highly critical of the force. |
| In December, Met Commander Ali Dizaei launched a claim of racial discrimination with the Employment Tribunal against the force with the support of the MBPA. | In December, Met Commander Ali Dizaei launched a claim of racial discrimination with the Employment Tribunal against the force with the support of the MBPA. |
| The inquiry will be chaired by Cindy Butts, who told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme that the Met has made significant progress in recruiting black and ethnic minority police officers over the past 10 years but said more needed to be done. | The inquiry will be chaired by Cindy Butts, who told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme that the Met has made significant progress in recruiting black and ethnic minority police officers over the past 10 years but said more needed to be done. |
| "There are still substantial problems that remain, and we have to be very upfront about that," she said. | "There are still substantial problems that remain, and we have to be very upfront about that," she said. |
| Institutional racism | Institutional racism |
| "And that's what this inquiry is about - it's about examining the experiences of black and minority ethnic officers and trying to come up with practical, workable solutions that can improve the situation." | "And that's what this inquiry is about - it's about examining the experiences of black and minority ethnic officers and trying to come up with practical, workable solutions that can improve the situation." |
| This month will mark 10 years since the publication of the Macpherson Report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence, which branded the Met "institutionally racist". | This month will mark 10 years since the publication of the Macpherson Report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence, which branded the Met "institutionally racist". |
| This week the Runnymede Trust said problems in the police service meant the criticism still applied. | This week the Runnymede Trust said problems in the police service meant the criticism still applied. |
| The report stated: "Ten years after the publication of the inquiry report, there is still significant progress to be made - notably in relation to the career experiences of black and minority ethnic officers and the disproportionate use of stop and search procedures against black groups. | The report stated: "Ten years after the publication of the inquiry report, there is still significant progress to be made - notably in relation to the career experiences of black and minority ethnic officers and the disproportionate use of stop and search procedures against black groups. |
| "It is difficult, in light of these continued challenges, to argue that the charge of institutional racism no longer applies." | "It is difficult, in light of these continued challenges, to argue that the charge of institutional racism no longer applies." |