Police forces are failing to increase their low numbers of black officers, despite a promise that a big recruitment drive would finally tackle the much-criticised shortfall.
Just 109 of 7,320 new recruits across England and Wales over the last 15 months – 1.5 per cent of the total – are black, according to research by the Liberal Democrats.
That proportion is less than half the size of the black population, which was 3.3 per cent when the 2011 census was taken – and has almost certainly risen since.
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At no fewer than 23 forces, the number of black officers is still in single figures, including in Warwickshire (2), Gloucestershire (4), West Mercia (5), South Wales (6) and Sussex (8).
The failure to boost numbers comes despite the Black Lives Matter demonstrations that have swept the UK this summer, in part in protest at homegrown racism, including in the police.
The UK’s first black chief constable, Kent’s Mike Fuller, then hit out at the failure to deliver change, saying: “People can’t look to the police service and feel it reflects the society that it serves.”
And the Home Office pledged its 20,000 planned extra officers would be “a significant opportunity to improve diversity and to make sure forces truly reflect the people they protect”.
In fact, the proportion of black officers remains at just 1.2 per cent of the overall force, barely higher than the 1 per cent achieved 13 years ago, in 2007.
The Home Office disputed the analysis, arguing the data used is “provisional and does not yet accurately record the ethnicity of new recruits”, but did not offer any alternative figure for the number of black officers.
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1/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis
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2/79 A girl wears a face mask during a Black Lives Matter rally in Parliament Square
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3/79 People are seen by a mural of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Stevenson Square, Manchester
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4/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
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5/79 Children pose for their family in front of discarded placards fixed on a wall in Piccadilly Gardens after a Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Manchester
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6/79 People shout slogans during a Black Lives Matter rally in Parliament Square
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7/79 Demonstrators in Leicester
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8/79 A demonstrator holds up a placard during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
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9/79 A demonstrator gestures during a Black Lives Matter protest in Manchester
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10/79 A mounted police officer raises their baton as police horses ride along Whitehall, past the entrance to Downing Street, in an attempt to disperse protestors gathered in central London
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11/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
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12/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road, London
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13/79 Protesters hold up signs as they march along a road during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
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14/79 People climbing on top of the Queen Victoria Statue as they take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
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15/79 Children pose for a photo during a Black Lives Matter protest at Parliament Square
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16/79 Demonstrators hold placards as they attend a protest march to the US Embassy in London
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17/79 Protesters demonstrate near the the US Embassy in Nine Elms in London
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18/79 Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
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19/79 Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
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20/79 A demonstrator is seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
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21/79 Demonstrators are seen as police officers look on during a Black Lives Matter protest near Downing street in London
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22/79 Demonstrators are seen wth police liaison officers during a Black Lives Matter protest in Luton
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23/79 A protest at Parliament Square in London
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24/79 A demonstrator in Leicester
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25/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
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26/79 Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
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27/79 Demonstrators block traffic outside Victoria Station
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28/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Custom House Square, Belfast
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29/79 Police on horseback in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
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30/79 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square
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31/79 Demonstrators throw flares above a police line during a Black Lives Matter march in London
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32/79 People climbing on top of the Queen Victoria Statue as they take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
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33/79 Demonstrators raise their hands facing police officers after scuffles during a Black Lives Matter march in London
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34/79 People are seen placing placards on a fence in London
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35/79 A demonstrator is seen with a protective face mask during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
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36/79 A sign alternatively naming Wilson Street ‘Rosa Parks Street’ in Glasgow. Activists have put up names of black people and civil rights activists throughout history alongside street names around the Scottish centre as part of the ongoing worldwide demonstrations following the death of George Floyd
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37/79 Boxer Anthony Joshua is seen with demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
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38/79 Demonstrators gather outside Downing Street
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39/79 Demonstrators kneel facing police officers after scuffles during a Black Lives Matter march in London
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40/79 Demonstrators lay on the pavement during a Black Lives Matter rally at Trafalgar Square
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41/79 A protester stands on bus stop and raises their hand during a Black Lives Matter protest at Parliament Square
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42/79 Protesters holding placards gather in Manchester
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43/79 A man gestures during a Black Lives Matter march in in London
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44/79 Girls hold placards in London
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45/79 A demonstrator in Parliament Square
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46/79 A demonstrator wearing a protective face mask during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
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47/79 A protest placard is affixed to the plinth of a statue of the Duke of Wellington on the second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
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48/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Deansgate, Manchester
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49/79 Demonstrators stage a Black Lives Matter Protest in Leicester city centre
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50/79 A demonstrator points towards a mounted police officer laying in the road after being unseated from their horse, during a demonstration on Whitehall, near the entrance to Downing Street
AFP via Getty Images
51/79 A ‘Black Lives Matter’ (BLM) protest at Parliament Square
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52/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
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53/79 Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
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54/79 Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
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55/79 Protests at Parliament Square in London
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56/79 A demonstrator holds a placard during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
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57/79 Demonstrators hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
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58/79 Protesters hold placards as they march through central London
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59/79 Demonstrators in Parliament Square
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60/79 Protesters kneel as they hold placards during a demonstration in Manchester
AFP via Getty Images
61/79 A mother and son hold up a sign during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
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62/79 A protest march in Manchester
AFP via Getty Images
63/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
Gemma Fox/The Independent
64/79 Demonstrators are seen standing on top of a bus stop wearing protective face masks and face coverings as the Black Lives Matter protesters march to the Home Office in London
REUTERS
65/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
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66/79 Demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest in Manchester are seen by a mural of George Floyd
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67/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
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68/79 A demonstrator is seen wearing a protective face mask as the Black Lives Matter protesters march to the Home Office in London
REUTERS
69/79 Protest in Parliament Square
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70/79 Demonstrators with a flare are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest near Downing street in London
REUTERS
71/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
PA
72/79 Protesters hold up signs during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
Getty
73/79 A protester raises his arm during a second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
Getty Images
74/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
PA
75/79 Placards are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
REUTERS
76/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
77/79 Protesters holding placards gather at the Queen Victoria monument for a second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
Getty Images
78/79 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Manchester
AFP via Getty Images
79/79 A woman kneels during a Black Lives Matter rally in London
AP
1/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis
PA
2/79 A girl wears a face mask during a Black Lives Matter rally in Parliament Square
AP
3/79 People are seen by a mural of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Stevenson Square, Manchester
REUTERS
4/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
5/79 Children pose for their family in front of discarded placards fixed on a wall in Piccadilly Gardens after a Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Manchester
Getty Images
6/79 People shout slogans during a Black Lives Matter rally in Parliament Square
AP
7/79 Demonstrators in Leicester
REUTERS
8/79 A demonstrator holds up a placard during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
REUTERS
9/79 A demonstrator gestures during a Black Lives Matter protest in Manchester
REUTERS
10/79 A mounted police officer raises their baton as police horses ride along Whitehall, past the entrance to Downing Street, in an attempt to disperse protestors gathered in central London
AFP via Getty Images
11/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
PA
12/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road, London
PA
13/79 Protesters hold up signs as they march along a road during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
Getty Images
14/79 People climbing on top of the Queen Victoria Statue as they take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
15/79 Children pose for a photo during a Black Lives Matter protest at Parliament Square
Getty Images
16/79 Demonstrators hold placards as they attend a protest march to the US Embassy in London
AFP via Getty Images
17/79 Protesters demonstrate near the the US Embassy in Nine Elms in London
Getty Images
18/79 Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
PA
19/79 Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
Reuters
20/79 A demonstrator is seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
REUTERS
21/79 Demonstrators are seen as police officers look on during a Black Lives Matter protest near Downing street in London
REUTERS
22/79 Demonstrators are seen wth police liaison officers during a Black Lives Matter protest in Luton
REUTERS
23/79 A protest at Parliament Square in London
EPA
24/79 A demonstrator in Leicester
REUTERS
25/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
PA
26/79 Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
REUTERS
27/79 Demonstrators block traffic outside Victoria Station
AP
28/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Custom House Square, Belfast
PA
29/79 Police on horseback in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
PA
30/79 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty Images
31/79 Demonstrators throw flares above a police line during a Black Lives Matter march in London
AP
32/79 People climbing on top of the Queen Victoria Statue as they take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
33/79 Demonstrators raise their hands facing police officers after scuffles during a Black Lives Matter march in London
AP
34/79 People are seen placing placards on a fence in London
REUTERS
35/79 A demonstrator is seen with a protective face mask during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
REUTERS
36/79 A sign alternatively naming Wilson Street ‘Rosa Parks Street’ in Glasgow. Activists have put up names of black people and civil rights activists throughout history alongside street names around the Scottish centre as part of the ongoing worldwide demonstrations following the death of George Floyd
PA
37/79 Boxer Anthony Joshua is seen with demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
REUTERS
38/79 Demonstrators gather outside Downing Street
AP
39/79 Demonstrators kneel facing police officers after scuffles during a Black Lives Matter march in London
AP
40/79 Demonstrators lay on the pavement during a Black Lives Matter rally at Trafalgar Square
AP
41/79 A protester stands on bus stop and raises their hand during a Black Lives Matter protest at Parliament Square
Getty Images
42/79 Protesters holding placards gather in Manchester
Getty Images
43/79 A man gestures during a Black Lives Matter march in in London
AP
44/79 Girls hold placards in London
AP
45/79 A demonstrator in Parliament Square
REUTERS
46/79 A demonstrator wearing a protective face mask during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
REUTERS
47/79 A protest placard is affixed to the plinth of a statue of the Duke of Wellington on the second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
Getty Images
48/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Deansgate, Manchester
PA
49/79 Demonstrators stage a Black Lives Matter Protest in Leicester city centre
EPA
50/79 A demonstrator points towards a mounted police officer laying in the road after being unseated from their horse, during a demonstration on Whitehall, near the entrance to Downing Street
AFP via Getty Images
51/79 A ‘Black Lives Matter’ (BLM) protest at Parliament Square
EPA
52/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
53/79 Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
PA
54/79 Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
PA
55/79 Protests at Parliament Square in London
EPA
56/79 A demonstrator holds a placard during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
REUTERS
57/79 Demonstrators hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
REUTERS
58/79 Protesters hold placards as they march through central London
Getty Images
59/79 Demonstrators in Parliament Square
REUTERS
60/79 Protesters kneel as they hold placards during a demonstration in Manchester
AFP via Getty Images
61/79 A mother and son hold up a sign during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
Getty Images
62/79 A protest march in Manchester
AFP via Getty Images
63/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
Gemma Fox/The Independent
64/79 Demonstrators are seen standing on top of a bus stop wearing protective face masks and face coverings as the Black Lives Matter protesters march to the Home Office in London
REUTERS
65/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
66/79 Demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest in Manchester are seen by a mural of George Floyd
REUTERS
67/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
PA
68/79 A demonstrator is seen wearing a protective face mask as the Black Lives Matter protesters march to the Home Office in London
REUTERS
69/79 Protest in Parliament Square
REUTERS
70/79 Demonstrators with a flare are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest near Downing street in London
REUTERS
71/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
PA
72/79 Protesters hold up signs during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
Getty
73/79 A protester raises his arm during a second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
Getty Images
74/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
PA
75/79 Placards are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
REUTERS
76/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
77/79 Protesters holding placards gather at the Queen Victoria monument for a second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
Getty Images
78/79 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Manchester
AFP via Getty Images
79/79 A woman kneels during a Black Lives Matter rally in London
AP
But Christine Jardine, the Lib Dems’ home affairs spokesperson, said: “It is appalling that, in 2020, the Conservative government has launched a recruitment drive for the police that is failing to bring in black officers.
“The Black Lives Matter movement demonstrates the urgent need to tackle racial injustice and build trust and confidence in the police among black communities.
“That cannot happen without addressing the shocking lack of diversity and bringing more black people into this key profession.”
The National Black Police Association warned that progress had been “negligible”, despite numerous initiatives, and that ethnic minority officers had “negative experiences”.
“Police forces need to step up their engagement with all these communities in order to build trust or these communities will never recognise policing as a potential career,” a spokesperson said.
The Lib Dems calculated the tiny increase from official figures produced, for the first time in such detail, to mark the increase in recruits to the end of June.
The Home Office has hailed the figures as containing the largest numbers of ethnic minority recruits in history, now making up 7.3 per cent of the force – up from 6.9 per cent last year.
But this is still little more than half the 14 per cent ethnic minority make-up of the population as a whole, more than 20 years after the inquiry into the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence first led to official targets.
And, crucially, the Lib Dems believe the overall numbers mask the poor performance for black recruits – where, following the Black Lives Matter protests – demands for change are loudest.
The marchers pointed to the deaths of British black men after being restrained by police “in circumstances not dissimilar to the murder of George Floyd” to explain the protests.
Anger has also been fuelled by the “disproportionate” lockdown-flouting fines levied on black people and their targeting in the growing use of stop and search.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “It is incorrect to say that only 109 black police officers have been recruited since March 2019.
“This figure has been obtained by comparing two different sets of statistics. The recently published police uplift data remains provisional and does not yet accurately record the ethnicity of new recruits.
“We’re working hard with the police to improve equality and diversity, and ensure forces are more representative of the communities they serve. Our campaign to recruit 20,000 additional officers over the next three years gives us a generational opportunity to do this.”
Source: UK Politics - www.independent.co.uk