Police Scotland urged to step up ethnic recruitment

Scotland’s national police force must take “bold steps” to boost the number of recruits from black and ethnic minority communities if public confidence is to be maintained, according to a new report.

A joint research project, findings from which have been published by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS), reported a largely positive view of policing north of the border among members of ethnic minority communities consulted.

However, concerns were raised over a “significant under-representation” of black and minority ethnic (BME) police officers with the suggestion that a five-year plan containing targets that Police Scotland can be measured against be developed.

Progress over the last two decades has been “remarkably slow”, says the report, with the proportion of Scottish police officers from a minority ethnic background rising from 0.3 per cent in 1998 to 1.2 per cent in 2012 despite the last census putting the minority ethnic population across Scotland at four per cent.

The study, which was based on a series of events with representatives of ethnic minority communities, was carried out jointly by HMICS along with the Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations (CEMVO) Scotland.

Addressing the under-representation of BME officers was deemed the “single biggest factor” which would help to improve confidence and trust in policing amongst ethnic minority communities in Scotland.

Police Scotland said they “absolutely recognise” the need to reflect communities served across the country. Earlier this month the single force launched a recruitment drive seeking to encourage people from ethnic minorities, among other groups, to apply.

Police Scotland's first equality and diversity report put the percentage of minority ethnic police officers in 2013 - the year in which the single service was launched - at 1 per cent, a proportion mirrored in terms of police staff and special constables. 

“The number of ethnic minority officers in higher ranks is so low that HMICS was unable to obtain a percentage breakdown by rank from Police Scotland,” adds the research paper issued by the Inspectorate. 

“However, HMICS has been advised by Police Scotland that there are no officers currently serving in Scotland at Superintendent rank or above who are from a visible ethnic minority background.

“Accordingly, all of the evidence points to the need for Police Scotland to take some bold steps to address the under-representation of ethnic minorities as police officers and staff to ensure that the service is more proportionally representative of the communities that it now serves, so as to maintain and enhance public confidence and trust. 

“This is an area that will require a strong leadership commitment by the Force Executive to ensure delivery of this equality outcome, and it is also an area worthy of careful monitoring by the Scottish Police Authority and HMICS.”

Three groups – women, young people between the ages of 16 and 25, as well as individuals over the age of 65 – within ethnic minority communities were consulted as part of the project.

Two other priorities common to all three groups were increased awareness of hate crime and what happens if reported, as well as more effective community engagement.

Racial crime remains the most commonly reported hate crime with more than two-thirds of hate crime charges in 2013-14 falling into this category, according to latest Crown Office figures.

Individuals spoken to as part of the study did not always have confidence to report or felt that incidents reported would be properly followed up and feedback given, notes the report.

HMICS also announced their intention to explore current Police Scotland arrangements for community consultation and engagement, in particular with "protected characteristic group communities", as part of their rolling programme of local policing inspections.

HM assistant inspector of constabulary in Scotland, Andy Cowie, said: “It is hoped this research project will encourage further discussion associated with policing ethnic minority communities in Scotland. The findings are significant as they indicate these communities hold some very positive perspectives about policing.

“We believe the creation of a single national police service and new equalities legislation in Scotland presents a unique opportunity to further improve relationships and understanding between ethnic minority communities and policing in Scotland.”

Police Scotland deputy chief constable Neil Richardson added: “Police Scotland welcome’s the publication of the HMICS research paper and the positive findings it has reached. Policing in Scotland has a strong relationship with all our communities including BME communities and we want to build on that even further.

“We absolutely recognise the need to reflect the communities we serve and that recruits from BME communities have a valuable role to play in helping to keep people safe. Recruiting is ongoing and we would encourage anyone considering a career in policing who comes from a BME community to consider that positively. 

“We take the issue of hate crime seriously. Victims must have the confidence to report incidents to us – and perpetrators must know that there is no place in our communities for crime motivated by prejudice and discrimination.

“Engagement takes place across the country with the diverse range of communities we serve to ensure the service we provide matches the needs, demands and priorities of the public in a flexible, responsive and accessible way.”