Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Third Report - The Macpherson Report: Twenty-two years on
Home Affairs Committee
HC 139
Published 30 July 2021
Recommendations
96
Rejected
Para 617
Establish and chair a Race Equality Steering Group to oversee policing race equality progress and accountability.
Recommendation
The Home Secretary should establish and chair, under the aegis of the National Policing Board, a Race Equality Steering Group. The Home Secretary should have oversight of progress in addressing race equality across the 43 police forces, including the implementation …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to establish a new Race Equality Steering Group chaired by the Home Secretary, asserting that existing governance structures, particularly the National Policing Board, already provide strong oversight and accountability for race equality in policing.
Home Office
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98
Rejected
Para 619
Establish a statutory Race Equality Commissioner for independent policing scrutiny and reporting.
Recommendation
We recommend that, in place of the oversight board, a new Race Equality Commissioner for policing is established to provide ongoing scrutiny, including analysis and advice on policing policy, tools and procedures that are likely (or have been shown) to …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation for a new Race Equality Commissioner, stating that existing strong governance and oversight through the National Policing Board are sufficient and make a new Commissioner unnecessary.
Home Office
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Conclusions (3)
55
Conclusion
Rejected
Para 422
The lack of evidence available about the effectiveness of stop and search in reducing serious violence crime has contributed to scepticism about the basis for using the powers and therefore a lack of confidence in them. The Home Office should fill this evidential gap by commissioning a fully independent and …
Government Response Summary
The government rejects commissioning a new independent and comprehensive research study, stating that it has already enhanced data collection and will focus on utilizing this data to drive action and transparency, as outlined in the Inclusive Britain report, before considering further research.
94
Conclusion
Rejected
Para 615
Since the Stephen Lawrence Steering Group was disbanded in 2005, there has been no national focus on achieving the aims of the Macpherson report to eliminate “racist prejudice and disadvantage and the demonstration of fairness in all aspects of policing”. The various national policing bodies have not done this, nor …
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the need for a new Commissioner or strengthened independent oversight, arguing that existing governance structures, including the Home Secretary-chaired National Policing Board and PCCs, provide sufficient scrutiny and accountability on race equality in policing.
97
Conclusion
Rejected
Para 618
In addition to the steering group, we believe it is so important to ensure that progress is sustained that further independent dedicated oversight on race equality in the police service in England and Wales is needed. Commitments to address issues from BME recruitment to stop and search have been made …
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the need for further strengthened independent oversight for race equality, asserting that existing governance via the National Policing Board and PCCs already provides strong and sufficient oversight.