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Select committee: Home Affairs Committee

Police diversity inquiry

Closed Opened 22 Feb 2016 Closed 1 Dec 2016

Home Affairs Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
The Home Affairs Committee says "urgent and radical action" is needed to tackle the gross under-representation of black and minority ethnic people in the police forces of England and Wales, which the police service has "consistently failed to address" over several decades. Government Response Government's response to the police diversity report Government's response to the police diversity report (PDF 173 KB)

Where it stands

The inquiry is closed, opened 22 February 2016.

The committee has published 1 report, most recently 1st Report - Police diversity on 21 May 2016.

The government's response

Published 26 July 2016.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government accepts that police forces need to be more representative but sets out a sector-led approach, with the College of Policing leading and decisions left to local leaders, and does not commit to the Committee's proposed central measures.

  • On the proposal for a Home Office "Police Diversity Champion", the response states that "it is for local leaders to decide how they will deliver improvements", while expecting senior commitment in all forces.
  • On positive action, the government agrees that forces should use the existing provisions where "appropriate and lawful given local circumstances", and says there is "no need for positive discrimination".
  • On performance benchmarks, it notes that Home Office performance targets were abolished in 2010 and that it is for chief constables and PCCs to decide how best to deploy resources.
  • On a BME senior leaders' forum, it says that "in principle this is an appealing idea" but would only wish it pursued if there was "a clear sector desire", led by the College of Policing.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Reports

All reports

Evidence

  • 1 oral evidence sessionLatest 12 April 2016
All evidence

Recent activity

Reports

1 report

Oral evidence sessions

1 session

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Date Session and witnesses Source
12 Apr 2016
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗