A new London Assembly report says the Metropolitan Police must do more to ensure its workforce better reflects the capital it serves.[1]
In 2013, 11 per cent of the Met’s officers were from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) background, compared with around 40 per cent of the population in London.
BAME women are significantly under-represented at the Met, accounting for fewer than three per cent of the Met’s police officers. Out of 1,868 senior officers, only 14 are BAME women.
The Committee recognises that the Met has made some progress, including targeted recruitment activities at BAME and female groups.
However, the report makes a number of recommendations to further increase the Met’s diversity, including:
Targeting BME women as a specific group and creating ‘champions’ to increase diversity.
Supporting flexible working to plug the rising numbers of female officers leaving the force.
Consider the legal implications of lessons from New York and Northern Ireland in the next two years, if other efforts to increase diversity prove unsuccessful.[2]
Joanne McCartney AM, Chair of the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee, said:
“All Londoners would benefit from a police service that thinks, looks and acts like our city.
“There is much more that can be done, such as expanding flexible working and targeting BAME women as a specific group for recruitment, which would speed up diversifying the Met.
“When the Met is more representative of the city it polices, we will have a force to be reckoned with. A police force that understands and meets the needs of Londoners.”
Notes for editors:
The diversity of the Met’s Frontline Report is attached.
A majority of the Police and Crime Committee believe that MOPAC should open up a dialogue with Government around the feasibility of implementing a law change on police quotas in the future if the Met is unable to recruit more BAME officers in the next two years.
Joanne McCartney AM, Chair of the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee is available for interview – see contact details below.
As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and balance on the Mayor.
For more details, please contact Ash Singleton in the Assembly Media Office on 020 7983 5769. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit, on 020 7983 4100.