West Midlands Police reveals ambitious BAME hiring plan
FORCE ‘MUST LOOK LIKE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES’
THE West Midlands Police is planning to recruit 1,000 police officers from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, writes Mark Cardwell.
David Jamieson, the region’s police and crime commissioner, said last Friday (12) that officer numbers are set to increase by at least 1,200 over the next three years, with a total of 2,750 people expected to be recruited, including to replace staff leaving the force.
Jamieson added that 1,000 of those new officers will be from BAME communities.
There are currently 6,495 officers in the force, of whom 706 (10.9 per cent) are from a BAME background, he said. This was up from 8.5 per cent in 2014.
The recruitment drive announced last week would mean that 22.2 per cent of officers would be from BAME backgrounds in three years’ time.
The proportion of residents from non-white backgrounds in the West Midlands combined authority area recorded in the 2011 census was 29 per cent.
Research by the Reach Data Unit showed that West Midlands Police used tactics such as handcuffing, batons, irritant sprays, tasers and firearms on 113 black people per 10,000 in 2018-19.
This was three times higher than the rate for white people – 38 tactics used per 10,000.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, has launched investigations into the alleged use of excessive force by West Midlands officers on black men on six occasions this year.
Jamieson said he recognised concerns about “equality and fairness” and urged people to “change the organisation from within”.
Referring to the protests in the UK and US following the death of a black American, George Floyd, in police custody in Minnesota, Jamieson said: “A variety of issues have brought people onto the streets over recent weeks, but equality and fairness is at the core.
“That requires the government to ensure there are opportunities for all communities so everyone can reach their potential, as well as in the courts, health service and other agencies who influence our day-to-day lives.
“For policing there are key actions too. There is no simple solution, but what will make a bigger difference than anything else is ensuring our force looks more like the communities it serves.
“Presently only 10.9 per cent of our officers are from BAME communities. That is an improvement from when I became PCC, but is still not good enough.
“After a decade of shrinking officer numbers, there is finally the chance to properly address that. This requires an increase in effort by West Midlands Police, but also requires those who have been sceptical towards joining the police to think again.
“I say to them, if you want to change policing, the best way is to get involved and join. Change the organisation from within.
“The chief constable of West Midlands Police shares my commitment to make the force look like the communities it serves. This figure, I hope, will give even more focus to those efforts.”
A panel discussion organised by the PCC last Thursday (11), addressed issues including how people from diverse backgrounds, particularly young people, are reflected in institutions. (Local Democracy Reporting Service)