HC Deb 02 May 1990 vol 171 cc565-6W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the percentage of black police officers currently serving in British police forces.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The most recent figures relate to January 1990 when 1,312 officers from ethnic minority communities were serving in police forces in England and Wales. This represents 1.04 per cent. of total strength compared, for example, to 273 officers or 0.24 per cent. of total strength in March 1980.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of probation officers are black.

Mr. John Patten

The results of a survey of probation officers carried out on 31 December 1987 were as follows:

Per cent.
White 83.7
Afro-Caribbean 1.0
Asian 0.4
Other Black 0.6
Not recorded 14.4
100

The proportion of ethnic minority recruits to the service is higher than the proportion in post: 13 per cent. of those sponsored by the Home Office in 1988 and 1989 to train as probation officers were from ethnic minority groups. We propose to introduce routine ethnic monitoring of all probation staff and caseloads shortly.