§ Mr. RichardsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken to encourage the recruitment of a higher number of black and Asian officers into the Welsh police forces.
§ Mr. Charles WardleAll forces in England and Wales have been encouraged in recent years to recruit from ethnic minority groups, in proportion to the ethnic minority population in the communities which they serve.
Welsh forces have taken a number of initiatives. For example, Gwent constabulary have forged a close liaison with Gwent racial equality council, which supports the force in its attempts to increase applications from ethnic minorities. The force also held a careers information day in 1992 for those from ethnic minority backgrounds which resulted in the appointment of four officers.