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Police officers are still guilty of unwitting prejudice, say chiefs
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor07.10.08
Senior policemen have admitted that some officers are guilty of "racist stereotyping" and "unwitting prejudice" in a document that will fuel the debate about alleged racism in forces.
In a confidential briefing paper, the Association of Chief Police Officers, says that "ignorance of difference" and "thoughtlessness" are further problems which are blighting attitudes to the ethnic minorities.
It also concedes that there are "cultural barriers" within the police for non-white staff and that reforms are needed to ensure that forces across the country are "more tolerant" and value difference.
The document, which is marked "not to be published externally or to be given out to the media", also emphasises that progress is being made and that such problems are isolated.
But the Met is already facing claims of racist discrimination against its two most senior Asian officers and calls by the Black Police Association for potential ethnic recruits to shun the force.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith last night announced a nationwide review of the treatment of ethnic minority officers. And the country's only black chief constable, Mike Fuller of the Kent force, a former senior Met officer, has added to the controversy by claiming in a Panorama documentary that ethnic minority officers in London have to work twice as hard to gain promotion.
The Association of Chief Police Officers document, which was sent out inadvertently by email, was drawn up in response to the programme and sets out the "lines to take" when trying to deal with the criticisms it contains.
It concedes that although recruitment of ethnic minority of ficers has improved significantly, "retention and progression" remains the "biggest challenge" faced by forces and warns that problems with "institutional racism" and "police culture" remain.
"If the police service is considered 'institutionally racist' on the basis that some of our processes, behaviour or attitudes show signs of thoughtlessness, ignorance of difference, racist stereotyping or unwitting prejudice then yes, there are signs that this still is the case on some occasions," the document states.
Reader views (10)
Wow - this has really touched a raw nerve which should make the 'powers that be' sit up and take notice, but I wouldn't hold my breath until after the next genaral election.
- Adam Gardiner, Larnaca Cyprus
The old "one big coffee pot" mentality of some of these politically correct police heirarchy is not new. We have the same problem with this multiculturalist claptrap and I'm here to tell you it does not work. They do not nor ever will understand that the only solution to mass immigration is assimilation, definately not multiculturalism. Then these so-called racist police officers would have no problem. But when there is a definate racial bias in the crimes they attend and the powers that be encourage multi-nationalism with their multiculturalism policy then trouble is bound to occur.
- Len, Perth, Australia
Well, for those of you who are genuinely concerned about crimes in the streets. A police force who is racist( and affected by institutional racism) is hardly going to be as efficient as it could be.They will perpetuate crimes. Let an inependent inquiry take it course, hoping that it can help the force to turn into a fairer place for all of us.
A racist police force of any rank is not going to be much of use on the street. I would like you to think for a moment why you are so dismissive?!
- Selective Mutism To Racism, Newcastle
Hardly a day goes by without some organisation like the BBC bleating on about how the police in this country are racist. To cover all bases this 'racism' is either 'institutional' or 'unwitting'. Ok, we get it - the liberal left in this country hate the police and will do everything they can to undermine them and their effectiveness. ACPO really should know better but, as many frontline officers will tell you, when someone reaches ACPO level they have long since ceased to be a police officer and have become politicians in uniform. When it comes to race, just have a look at the cabinet and tell me how exactly that reflects the modern, multicultural Britain they insist the rest of us conforms to.
- Owen Mitchell, London, UK
how can the police be accused of racism and stereotyping? in a recent court case thames valley police even went to the length of dragging a 5'8'' white man into court to avoid being accused of racism, even though witnesses to the crime had described the offender as over 6' and black and dna evidence obtained from the scene pointed to a person of afro-carribean origin being the perpetrator, a spokesman for the police even stated that they have to look at all the angles in front of them and not just the obvious, so how can you accuse them of racism ? - naturally the case was thrown out of court with the judge being furious at the waste of court time in this case !
- Mick Dorset, wigan, lancs
What a load of rubbish. Why oh why do these self appointed social-Marxist idiots think they know more about the job of policing than the frontline coppers do? They are wasting our money with this constant and needless campaign. How about looking at the crime statistics?
- Steve Stander, London
Our senior police officers need to get out on the streets; it seems they have nothing else to do with their time but run around suggesting that(un-named) policemen and women are racist. I am sure the white police officers association would have something to say about that - if it were allowed to exist. I would love to be holding down a job paying inxcess of £100,000pa, after retirement age, and be comp[lainiong about not being promoted to the next rung up the ladder.
Get out and start policing the streets, like you are paid to do, and shut the **** up (and I'm not referring to the PC's)!
- Charlie Puckett, London, SW3
What a crock, everyone is treated the same in the police, if they were not then how could people of colour reach positions of recognition and authority in the first place? Its an easy way to retire early and with loads of money in country governed by a party that is obsessed with political correctness and ultra left views. Just sue your employers and emigrate to Spain!
- Brandon Thomas, London UK
and if you deploy intelligence driven crime prevention which section of the population do you stop and search.
elderly white female??
- Iain Morris, mk
Should they not be getting on with lowering the crime?! Instead of these more Nu Labor targets.
- Georgie, Islington, London
