§ Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent reports he has received from the police inspectorate on racial fairness in the police services. [7152]
§ Mr. DenhamHer Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has carried out three thematic inspections looking at community and race relations issues and the progress the police service is making in 1203W this area since 1997, as well as a review of murder investigation and community and race relations issues in the Metropolitan Police Service.
The reports are as follows:
- Winning the Race—Policing Plural Communities (1997)
- Winning the Race—Policing Plural Communities.
- Revisited (1999)
- Winning the Race—Embracing Diversity (2001)
- Policing London—Winning Consent (2000).
In addition HMIC carries out regular inspections of individual forces, and as part of this process will consider how these forces are progressing on community and race relations issues.
§ Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the extent of fair treatment on the basis of race in police employment; and if he will make a statement. [6762]
§ Mr. DenhamA top priority for the Government is to ensure that the police service is more representative of the communities it seeks to serve and that it should reflect and be strengthened by the full diversity of society. The Home Secretary has published targets for the recruitment, retention and progression of minority ethnic police officers in "Dismantling Barriers". As part of the assessment of forces' progress in meeting those targets, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary inspected all forces in England and Wales. Their inspection report "Winning the Race—Embracing Diversity" published in January 2001 concluded that the great it majority of forces were progressing satisfactorily, or exhibiting good practice, in minority ethnic employment.