2nd Special Report - Police diversity: Government Response to the Committee's First Report of Session 2016–17

This is 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