Recommendations & Conclusions
39 items
2
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
Many of the findings and subsequent 70 recommendations made by the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry focused on longstanding issues which remain as relevant today, in particular, the overall aim set by the late Sir William Macpherson of “the elimination of racist prejudice and disadvantage and the demonstration of fairness in all …
Government response. The government asserts its commitment to tackling hate crime by referencing its 2016 Hate Crime Action Plan (refreshed 2018) and communications campaigns, which aimed to improve police response and public understanding of hate crime.
Home Office
4
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
Evidence to our inquiry shows that there is a significant problem with confidence in the police within Black communities. We were very concerned to see that confidence in the police among Black people has fallen in recent years and the gap in confidence in policing between White and Asian people …
Government response. The government highlights its ongoing Police Uplift Programme, which aims to increase police representation from diverse communities through national campaigns, attraction and recruitment strategies, and enhanced data capture to address issues related to community confidence.
Home Office
5
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
Fairness, respect and impartiality are core values that should be fundamental to policing. So the fact that Black people, and especially Black Caribbean people, have much lower expectations than White people that they will be treated fairly and with respect by the police is a matter of deep and serious …
Government response. The government states that police forces are using positive action provisions from the Equality Act 2010 to increase representation, with updated guidance from the College and new guidance in development as part of 'Inclusive Britain,' alongside Police Uplift Programme investment …
Home Office
6
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
Overall the majority of people from all communities still report confidence in their local police. However, there is no getting away from the significant confidence and fairness gap for Black communities. The fact that this persists twenty-two years after the Macpherson report is deeply troubling. It undermines the principle that …
Government response. The government outlines existing governance mechanisms, such as the National Policing Board and the Police Uplift Programme Board, which are tasked with strategic oversight and ensuring progress on diversity within policing to address issues of confidence and fairness.
Home Office
17
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
Our greatest concern going forward is that the Government and police forces are being left behind by the rise of online racism and racist crimes as the rise of social media means patterns of race hate crime are changing. Currently the police do not have the digital capacity, training or …
Government response. The government acknowledged its commitment to tackling hate crime and outlined existing measures, including the Hate Crime Action Plan, public awareness campaigns, the True Vision online reporting portal, and Operation Modify, a digital skills training program for police.
Home Office
19
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
We welcome the Government legislating for online safety and we continue to consider these issues separately from this report. But we are concerned that much more also needs to be done around the policing response.
Government response. The government acknowledged its commitment to tackling hate crime and listed existing measures to improve the police response and public awareness, such as the Hate Crime Action Plan, awareness campaigns, the True Vision portal, and Operation Modify training for police.
Home Office
23
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
In 2020 BME officers represented just 7% of the police service across England and Wales, far below the 14% of the population in England and Wales who are BME. The Macpherson Report: Twenty-two years on 179 It is extremely disappointing that twenty-two years after the publication of the Macpherson report …
Government response. The government acknowledges the need for representative police forces and details ongoing work through the Police Uplift Programme to diversify recruitment, including national campaigns, sharing best practices, and improved data collection.
Home Office
24
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
What is equally shocking is that so little changed in terms of BME recruitment and retention in the decade following our predecessors’ last inquiry on the Macpherson report. While there has been progress in BME recruitment by some forces in the last twelve months, several forces, including large forces like …
Government response. The government acknowledges the importance of representative police forces and outlines current efforts through the Police Uplift Programme to improve recruitment, retention, and progression of BME officers, including targeted attraction strategies and enhanced data collection.
Home Office
25
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
The Macpherson report was clear that police forces need to be representative of the communities they serve. Throughout our inquiry we have heard concerns about community confidence in the police, the use of certain police powers and wider racism in policing. These findings of racial disparities and the community concerns …
Government response. The government reiterates that police forces should be representative of their communities and highlights the ongoing Police Uplift Programme, detailing its strategies for diversifying recruitment and improving understanding through better data.
Home Office
26
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
Despite commitments made over many years police forces across the country have failed to do enough to increase BME recruitment, retention and promotion for decades. There has been a lack of focus, consistency and leadership in driving BME recruitment and promotion in the police service and it has not been …
Government response. The government acknowledges the challenge of achieving a diverse police service and details the current efforts of the Police Uplift Programme, which aims to improve BME recruitment, retention, and progression through various strategies.
Home Office
27
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
Our analysis suggests that, on the current rate of progress, we will not have properly representative police forces in England and Wales for another twenty years. That would be four decades after the Macpherson report raised the seriousness of this issue and nearly half a century after the murder of …
Government response. The government acknowledges the need for representative police forces and describes the ongoing Police Uplift Programme, emphasizing its role in diversifying recruitment and improving data collection to understand retention.
Home Office
28
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
The Government has committed to the recruitment of an additional 20,000 police officers by 31 March 2023. We agree with the Home Secretary that the uplift must be used to make immediate and significant progress in tackling the persistent under- representation of BME communities within the police force. We also …
Government response. The government acknowledges the opportunity presented by the Police Uplift Programme to improve BME representation and details various ongoing strategies within this programme, such as targeted recruitment campaigns and data collection, to achieve this.
Home Office
29
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
Much stronger national action is needed. We recognise the various equality and diversity initiatives that have been undertaken by different policing bodies but in practice they have not delivered sufficient focus or progress on BME recruitment or tackling race inequality within forces. Strategies and guidance are also ineffectual without consistency …
Government response. The government responds by detailing the existing Police Uplift Programme, which it states is a comprehensive programme working with all 43 forces to deliver recruitment and retention strategies for a more diverse service, rather than committing to a new framework.
Home Office
32
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
It is welcome that forces such as the West Midlands and Leicestershire have already made clear commitments both on immediate recruitment levels and the overall proportion of BME officers in the force over time. Other forces need to be more ambitious or the immediate opportunity to improve workforce diversity significantly, …
Government response. The government acknowledges the importance of diversity and details current comprehensive work through the Police Uplift Programme, including attraction campaigns, sharing best practice, and improved data collection to support all 43 forces in becoming more representative.
Home Office
33
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
It is particularly disappointing that the number of forces achieving representative recruitment is not higher since it is clear that forces which have made a focused effort to do so are able to achieve representative recruitment. The recent progress by forces in Greater Manchester and Nottinghamshire has shown that it …
Government response. The government acknowledges the importance of diversity and states that sharing best practice is already an effort being made through the Police Uplift Programme, which also supports forces with various recruitment strategies and national campaigns targeting diverse audiences.
Home Office
35
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
All forces must do far more to use the positive action provisions of the Equality Act 2010 to develop targeted recruitment campaigns, mentoring and support. Some forces have used those provisions very effectively to increase BME recruitment significantly in a short space of time. But we have been troubled to …
Government response. The government reiterates its commitment to increasing diversity through the Police Uplift Programme, which includes various attraction and recruitment strategies, as well as national campaigns designed to reach diverse audiences and provide targeted communications. However, it does not explicitly commit …
Home Office
36
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
The evidence from forces which do use a positive action approach demonstrates that forces should be able to achieve their targets using tried and tested positive action measures. Given the success these forces have had, we believe that chief officer teams should be required to use the positive action tools …
Government response. The government acknowledges the importance of representative forces and describes current efforts under the Police Uplift Programme to support forces with recruitment strategies and national campaigns to reach diverse audiences, but does not explicitly commit to requiring chief officer teams …
Home Office
37
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
Given the enduring nature of this problem a clear framework is needed for holding Chief Constables and police forces to account and ensuring that there is follow up action where forces do not make sufficient progress.
Government response. The government asserts that a clear framework for accountability already exists through the Home Secretary's National Policing Board, which sets strategic priorities and holds the sector to account, and through Police and Crime Commissioners who ensure local accountability for Chief …
Home Office
38
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
Progress against local targets must be assessed regularly by the Home Secretary, acting through the National Policing Board. We welcome the commitment made by HMICFRS to include recruitment in their inspections on disproportionality. Representative recruitment must be treated as a key measure of legitimacy in HMICFRS’ regular inspections.
Government response. The government states that the Home Secretary, through the National Policing Board, already provides strong governance and oversight, holding the sector to account for strategic priorities that include building public trust, implying this encompasses representative recruitment and legitimacy.
Home Office
39
Recommendation
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
The Home Secretary has powers in legislation to require HMICFRS inspections where there are concerns about force operational performance on particular matters, and to require specified measures in the face of persistent failings. Given the importance of representative recruitment to restoring legitimacy and confidence as well as the lack of …
Government response. The government highlights its existing strong governance and oversight through the Home Secretary's National Policing Board and Police and Crime Commissioners, which collectively ensure accountability for policing priorities, rather than committing to the specific, triggered use of powers for HMICFRS …
Home Office
43
Recommendation
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
There is clear racial disparity in the number of officers being dismissed from police forces—BME officers are more than twice as likely to be dismissed as White officers— and in the number of BME officers and staff being subjected to internal disciplinary processes. We welcome the recent work by the …
Government response. The government agrees with the finding of racial disparity in police dismissals and misconduct. It welcomes the NPCC's new Race Action Plan (May 2022) to address this and commits the Home Office to review the police misconduct system in summer …
Home Office
44
Recommendation
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
It is completely unacceptable that forces’ data on ethnic disparity in police misconduct has been inconsistent and incomplete to the point where it cannot be understood or acted upon. We are appalled that it has not been possible for us even to assess the extent of racial disparities in the …
Government response. The government welcomes the NPCC's new Race Action Plan (May 2022), which commits to ensuring misconduct data is published consistently and fully broken down by ethnicity for all forces. The Home Office will also review the police misconduct system in …
Home Office
59
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
New policing technologies have developed in the decades since the Macpherson report. These technologies, which clearly could not have been considered by the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, have given rise to similar kinds of issues about the importance of sustaining confidence among minority ethnic communities, avoiding racial disparities and ensuring fairness …
Government response. The government agrees it is vital to have processes and governance for fair and proportionate use of new technology, and commits to working with policing partners to support the development of a national ethics framework for policing. This framework is …
Home Office
62
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
Evidence of disproportionality must be carefully considered and presented transparently, with robust systems of independent oversight. Although the NPCC conducted a detailed analysis of the use of covid Fixed Penalty Notices by ethnicity during the first lockdown, in response to issues raised in the media and questions from this Committee, …
Government response. The government responds by stating that the NPCC routinely publishes data on COVID-19 Fixed Penalty Notices, has commissioned an independent analysis of FPNs by demographic group to be published, and is committed to an action plan to improve diversity across …
Home Office
64
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
The police are currently exploring other new technologies such as live facial recognition technology, where serious consideration is needed of the way the technology might apply for different communities and any consequences for racial disparities.
Government response. The government commits to supporting the development of a national ethics framework for policing, which will underpin high-quality impact assessments for new technologies to ensure fair and proportionate use.
Home Office
65
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
As new policing technologies, tools and powers are developed, it is important that there are robust and credible processes in place both to guard against the risk of importing or exacerbating racial disparities and to maximise their potential to demonstrate fairness and build consent in the public.
Government response. The government commits to supporting the development of a national ethics framework for policing, which will underpin high-quality impact assessments for new technologies to ensure fair and proportionate use.
Home Office
66
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
Under the Equality Act 2010 the Home Office and the police have a legal duty to consider the equality impact of new policies, measures or technologies on race equality or other protected characteristics. We do not believe that this responsibility is currently being taken seriously enough. The Home Office, NPCC …
Government response. The government commits to working with the NPCC and College of Policing to develop a national ethics framework, which will include high-quality impact assessments for new technologies to address racial disparities, directly responding to the call for collaboration on race …
Home Office
69
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
Individual bias and prejudice have no place in policing. Where they persist they must be strongly challenged, including through robust disciplinary action and dismissals for unacceptable racist behaviour. Individual forces must be vigilant and proactive in shaping their organisational culture, with training and management systems in place to address the …
Government response. The government commits to supporting the College and NPCC by autumn 2024 to review and deliver improvements to police officer training in de-escalation and conflict management, and highlights the new 'Race Action Plan' which includes measures to improve policing confidence …
Home Office
78
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
Secondly, the evidence we have gathered shows that the impetus for change from the “clarion call” of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry has not been sustained. In 1999 the House of Commons was told by the then Home Secretary that the changes required by the Macpherson report would “work only if …
Government response. The government asserts that significant progress has been made since the Macpherson Report, citing strengthened police accountability, improved data, a diverse recruitment drive, and measures outlined in the 'Inclusive Britain' report to tackle disparities.
Home Office
79
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
We recognise that the devolved nature of policing means that there are variations in policies, cultures and outcomes between individual forces and institutions. However, based on the evidence we have received, we believe that whilst there have been improvements in important areas, there are continued shortcomings that go beyond individual …
Government response. The government acknowledges the committee's work and highlights significant progress made in policing over the past two decades through reforms, improved data collection, and diverse recruitment, outlining ongoing efforts to build on this progress via the "Inclusive Britain" response.
Home Office
84
Recommendation
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
Twenty-two years on, police forces need to take responsibility for the lack of progress in vital areas raised by the Macpherson report. Individual forces and Chief Constables have considerable scope within their own organisations and communities to increase BME recruitment, establish fair misconduct processes, and build trust with local communities …
Government response. The government outlines significant progress made since the Macpherson report, including strengthened police accountability, improved data collection, and a drive to recruit diverse officers. It refers to the 'Inclusive Britain' report for further measures to improve accountability and tackle disparities.
Home Office
85
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
The wide variation among forces in the approaches taken and outcomes achieved on specific issues in relation to race equality is a matter of serious concern. Whilst we welcome the good practice of forces that have chosen to innovate on promoting race equality, we are worried at how far this …
Government response. The government highlights significant national progress since the Macpherson report, including strengthened police accountability, improved Home Office data collection, and a drive to recruit diverse officers. It also refers to the 'Inclusive Britain' report for a comprehensive action plan to …
Home Office
86
Recommendation
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
The lack of widespread local scrutiny and oversight mechanisms involving different communities means that, too often, impetus to make progress is left to individual Chief Constables and PCCs, without improvements being made across the board or processes to ensure the interests of minority communities are represented. All forces need to …
Government response. The government commits to strengthening local community scrutiny by developing a new framework by Summer 2023, which will ensure panels are independently led and reflect local diversity. They will also explore sharing body-worn video footage with these panels.
Home Office
87
Recommendation
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
Police forces also need to recognise the importance of coordinated national work to address unjustified race disparities and tackle racism. Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners should support work by the NPCC and APCC to establish national strategies and monitoring to ensure progress everywhere as problems will not be …
Government response. The Home Office commits to continuing work with the NPCC and APCC to support forces in collating and publishing data on public confidence, and to delivering recommendations aimed at improving PCCs' ability to use data for accountability and addressing community …
Home Office
91
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
HMICFRS has a very important role to play in driving improvements, raising standards and measuring progress across policing. It has produced a series of extensive reports about stop and search which has added a great deal to understanding of the issues. It is disappointing that its recommendations have still not …
Government response. The government welcomes ongoing work by policing bodies and forces to implement HMICFRS recommendations, claiming a majority of forces have already done so or have plans. It states a follow-up survey is underway to gather more detailed information on force …
Home Office
93
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
The current system for delivery and accountability on race equality within policing is not working. While there are some opportunities for ensuring accountability within the police service, our evidence indicates that these processes are far too fragmented and rarely exercised fully. Race equality tends to be left to the discretion …
Government response. The government asserts that strong governance and oversight of policing already exist through the Home Secretary-chaired National Policing Board and PCCs to ensure accountability and improve community confidence. It therefore rejects the need for a new Commissioner and maintains that …
Home Office
95
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
Furthermore the withdrawal of the Home Office from an active role in policing has been responsible for fragmentation and a lack of wholesale ownership in addressing race equality issues. While we acknowledge the devolved nature of policing, the Home Office is ultimately responsible for providing leadership and accountability in this …
Government response. The government asserts that it has fundamentally reformed its governance and oversight of policing through the Home Secretary-chaired National Policing Board, demonstrating its active role and leadership in ensuring progress on race equality, contrary to the committee's suggestion of withdrawal.
Home Office
99
Conclusion
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
The renewed focus amongst policing leaders on issues of race inequality since the summer of 2020, and in particular the commitment on the part of the NPCC to the production of an action plan to consider “concerns about racial inequalities in policing and the criminal justice system” is welcome. However, …
Government response. The government agrees more work is needed on training consistency and commits to supporting the College and NPCC by autumn 2024 to review and improve police officer training in de-escalation and conflict management. It also highlights the co-developed 'Race Action …
Home Office
100
Recommendation
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: T…
Accepted
Based on the evidence we have received and the systemic problems we have identified, we recommend that in taking forward its Plan of Action on Inclusion and Race, the NPCC must focus on the following priorities: • Achieving a police workforce that is representative of the population by 2030, with …
Government response. The government states that police forces are striving for a representative workforce and details existing comprehensive programmes, such as the Police Uplift Programme and targeted national campaigns, which are already delivering on this ambition through attraction, recruitment, and data capture …
Home Office