Recent Home Office data has revealed a striking absence of Black male and female police officers in two of the UK’s forces. Cleveland and Devon and Cornwall police had no Black officers as of April 2024, despite previous calls for diversity from former Prime Minister Theresa May. In nearly half of the 44 regional police forces in England and Wales, fewer than ten Black officers serve, with Cleveland, Northumbria, and Durham forces in the North East of England having just seven Black officers among a total of 6,724.
The data also showed that out of 3,829 promotions awarded to officers last year, only 41 went to Black individuals. Campaigners argue this lack of representation is because policing remains unwelcoming to aspiring young Black talent.
Leroy Logan, a former Met Superintendent involved in recruitment and retention efforts after the 1999 Macpherson inquiry, stated racism in policing has regressed to a “pre-Macpherson era.” Logan, who experienced abuse himself, noted that Black officers still face disrespect and a toxic culture within the police force.
The Economist claimed that Britain’s policing was not “two-tiered” against Whites, but more realistically, against Blacks.
This inference is based on population norming.
If we norm by homicide perpetration instead, we see that Blacks in the U.K. are relatively underpoliced. https://t.co/b4e4etrJDM pic.twitter.com/GqwhMkItOO
— Crémieux (@cremieuxrecueil) August 10, 2024
A report highlighted that ethnic minority officers felt they were treated poorly, faced racism, and struggled with career progression. Logan commented that Black people felt “not wanted” in policing, which deterred them from joining or staying.
Logan recounted instances of blatant racism, such as having the N-word written on his locker. He expressed disappointment in his colleagues and the casual racism prevalent in police culture, which often went unchallenged.
Lee Jasper, Chair of the Alliance for Police Accountability, echoed similar sentiments. He noted that despite significant investments in Black recruitment drives, these efforts have not yielded substantial results. Jasper pointed out that many Black officers who do join eventually leave the force.
Shocking figures show two UK police forces don’t have a single Black male or female serving officer.
A gentle reminder if one was needed that the Met police does not have a monopoly on institutional racism. Excellent work by @melissasigodo! https://t.co/YnkKVlZO6k
— Michael Morgan (@mikecmorgan) August 23, 2024
Gavin Stephens, Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), has acknowledged that British policing is “institutionally racist” and that Black voices are often excluded from policy-making. In 2020, following George Floyd’s murder in the US, the NPCC pledged to tackle discrimination within policing through the National Police Race Action Plan. However, four years later, the figures show little improvement.
The National Black Policing Association has called for a boycott of the Met Police by ethnic minorities, citing a “racist and vexatious” misconduct investigation into a prominent officer. The organisation also withdrew support for the race action plan, arguing that policing remains unsafe for Black and Asian individuals.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dr Alison Heydari, programme director for the Police Race Action Plan, noted that policing has made progress in becoming more representative. The number and proportion of officers from diverse ethnic backgrounds, including Black communities, are at their highest since records began. However, she acknowledged that significant work remains, particularly in recruiting, retaining, and promoting more Black officers and staff.
Dr Heydari emphasised the importance of addressing the internal culture of policing to make it an attractive place for people from all communities. She pointed out that the Met Police, one of the least representative forces, has 17.5% of officers from ethnic minority backgrounds, whereas the capital’s population is nearly 50% ethnic minority.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Media Storm explores why many Black people are rejected from the police force, highlighting systemic racism, biases, and the need for reform.(read more)
- Al Jazeera reports that a group monitoring UK police for anti-racism issues will disband due to scandals, raising concerns over policing accountability.(read more)
- The Guardian reports that the Metropolitan Police Force is plagued by institutional racism, misogyny, and homophobia, as revealed in Dame Louise Casey’s damning report, highlighting deep-seated issues and the need for transformative change.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Are there any Black police officers in Cleveland and Devon and Cornwall forces?
No, both forces had zero Black officers as of April 2024.
How many Black officers are there in the North East of England?
There are seven Black officers among the 6,724 total in Cleveland, Northumbria, and Durham forces.
What did former Met Superintendent Leroy Logan say about racism in policing?
He said racism in policing had returned to a ‘pre-Macpherson era’ and Black people were ‘not wanted.’
What is the National Black Policing Association’s stance on the Met Police?
The association called for a boycott by ethnic minorities due to a ‘racist and vexatious’ misconduct investigation.
What did Gavin Stephens admit about Britain’s policing?
He admitted that Britain’s policing is ‘institutionally racist’ and Black voices were ‘not involved’ in policy design.