Force ups BAME recruitment

Somerset’s police force employed more BAME outreach workers than expected in the past year as part of a drive to make its workforce more diverse and representative.

Outreach workers are employed to “challenge organisational thinking about engagement”, being drawn from the local community and allowing the police to better understand and address concerns of residents.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary intended to hire only three such workers - but ended up hiring seven, all black, Asian or of minority ethnic origin (BAME).

This reflects a more general move towards diversity in the last five years, with more female, BAME and LGBT individuals applying to become police officers.

Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens discussed police recruitment as part of her annual report, which was presented to a virtual police and crime panel.

She said in her written report: “We used a different approach to the recruitment, which took place in April 2019 and which attracted a particularly high quality and calibre of applicants.

“Due to the strength of the different candidates, it was agreed to appoint seven outreach workers rather than the three originally proposed.”

“Those who were successful have a range of backgrounds but all are BAME.

“The outreach workers went through their induction process in September and October 2019, and have already started to make an impact with regards to community engagement and the attraction from under-represented communities to the force.”

Over the last five years, the force has seen a rise in the number of people applying to be police officers from non-white backgrounds.