§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) black and (b) Asian people are employed in (i) West Midlands Police force and (ii) Leicestershire Police force; and at what grade. [45686]
§ Mr. MichaelIt may be helpful if I provide tables showing the numbers employed and the percentage in that category of employment for (i) black people, (ii) Asian people and (iii) ethnic minorities.
(i) Black staff—as at 31 March 1998 (provisional figures) Leicestershire Constabulary West Midlands Police Total number Percentage of total Total number Percentage of total Superintendent 1 5.6 — — Chief Inspector — — — — Inspector 1 1.1 — — Sergeant 2 0.8 18 1.8 Constable 22 1.4 114 6.5 Civilian staff 3 0.4 102 3.6
(ii) Asian staff—as at 31 March 1998 (provisional figures) Leicestershire Constabulary West Midlands Police Total number Percentage of total Total number Percentage of total Superintendent — — — — Chief Inspector — — — — Inspector — — 2 0.6 Sergeant 9 3.5 10 1.0 Constable 36 2.3 111 6.3 Civilian staff 29 3.7 81 2.9 222W
(iii) All ethnic minority employees—as at 31 March 1998 (provisional figures) Leicestershire Constabulary West Midlands Police Total number Percentage of total Total number Percentage of total Superintendent 1 5.6 1 1.9 Chief Inspector — — 1 1.5 Inspector 2 2.2 2 0.6 Sergeant 12 4.6 38 3.9 Constable 74 4.7 252 14.4 Civilian staff 48 6.2 185 6.6 Total 137 5.0 479 4.8
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has taken to investigate claims of race discrimination in West Midlands police force. [45676]
§ Mr. MichaelNo allegations of racial discrimination in West Midlands Police have been made to me. It would be a matter for the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police to investigate any such claims made to him or the police authority, in consultation with the police authority as necessary. In general, I would expect such allegations to be put direct to the individual police force.