Equal opportunities and diversity management information report

Report: 16
Date: 1 May 2003
By: Clerk

Summary

This report provides the Equality Opportunities and Diversity management information up to February 2003. The main trends are highlighted and detailed performance information is attached in an appendix.

A. Recommendation

The Board is asked to note the attached management information and any emerging trends.

B. Supporting information

Background

1. At the meeting of the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board (EODB) of the 26 September 2002 the information regularly required by the board to monitor equalities and diversity in the MPA and MPS was agreed.

2. The attached management information report at Appendix 1 includes as much information as possible from the requirements agreed by the board. Some data is still under development or awaiting data collection from the MPS. In particular, some of the fair practice information is awaiting development by the MPS.

3. Most of the 2002/03 data in the attached appendix are from April to February. Due to end of year reconciliation March data were not available when writing this paper.

4. The main trends to be noted from the attached report are:

• Little progress has been made since December in the percentage of visible ethnic minority (VEM) police officers, which remains at 5.33%, far below the 7.9% target.
• 414 Police Community Support Officers are now in post. 25% of these are female and 27% are VEM officers.
• The percentage of people attending selection centre who were from VEM groups has fallen significantly to reach 7.7% in February. As a comparison this percentage was 27.5% in January 2003 and 57% in October 2002. In addition to this fall, there is a large attrition rate as the percentage of VEM officers recruited (10.8%) has hardly increased in comparison with last year.
• Resignation has become the most common reason for officers leaving the MPS (taking over from pension). Among the officers leaving, 28.7% retire from the MPS and 35% resign. However 43% of female officers leaving resign and 72% of VEM officers leaving resign.
• The number of recorded racist offences fallen significantly over the last few months, from an average of 1300 offences per month in 2001/02 to 1140 in 2002/03.
• Similar conclusions can be drawn when looking at homophobic crime, with a monthly average of recorded offences of 103 in 2001/02 and 89 in 2002/03.
• The number of recorded domestic violence offences has gone up from 27 927 in 2001/02 to 56277 from April 02 to February 03. This could be a result of improved recorded practices.
• The arrest rate following stop and search is falling. The fall can be observed in all ethnic categories, and for both men and women.

C. Equality and diversity implications

Included within the report and attached management information.

D. Financial implications

None.

E. Background papers

• Recruitment Task Force (report to Authority on 25 July 2002)

F. Contact details

Report author: Claire Lambert

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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