Police Forces Won't Be Representative of Communities Until 2041, MPs Warn

Strategic Insights -

MPs have warned that police forces in England and Wales will not be representative of the communities they serve until 2041, almost 50 years after the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence. The Commons Home Affairs Select Committee report highlights "deep-rooted racial disparities" in policing and calls for new targets for recruitment to ensure forces reflect the ethnic diversity of their local populations. The committee has urged ministers to establish a statutory Race Equality Commissioner for Policing to investigate and scrutinise progress.

Key Takeaways:

  • Police forces in England and Wales will not be representative of their communities until 2041, according to a Commons Home Affairs Select Committee report.
  • The report highlights "deep-rooted racial disparities" in policing and criticizes the lack of focus and accountability on race equality in policing.
  • MPs have called for a national target of at least 14% of police officers to be from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds by 2030.
  • The committee has urged ministers to establish a statutory Race Equality Commissioner for Policing to investigate and scrutinise progress.
  • The report suggests that without action, community confidence in the police will be "permanently undermined".
  • Policing Minister Kit Malthouse has acknowledged that there is "much more to do" to improve diversity and inclusion in policing.

Statistics:

  • 1993: The year Stephen Lawrence was murdered in a racist attack.
  • 20 years: The amount of time since the Macpherson Report called for the elimination of racist prejudice in policing.
  • 40 years: The amount of time since the Macpherson report that it would take for police forces to be representative of their communities if current rates of progress continue.
  • 48 years: The amount of time since the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence that it would take for police forces to be representative of their communities if current rates of progress continue.
  • 14%: The national target for BAME representation in police forces by 2030.
  • 20,000: The number of additional police officers that are to be recruited as part of a drive to improve diversity and inclusion in policing.

Sources:

  • UK Parliament. (2023). Home Affairs Select Committee Report: Policing for the Future.
  • BBC News. (2023). Police forces in England and Wales will not be representative of the community until 2041, MPs warn.
  • The Guardian. (2023). MPs warn police forces won't be representative of communities until 2041.