Another MPA First - Thorough evaluation of MPS Community and Race Relations Training

99/03
02 December 2003

The MPA's review of Community and Race Relations training in the MPS, the first extensive evaluation of the attitudes of a police service ever to be carried out by a police authority, will be given final clearance on 4 December 2003 at the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board. 

Cindy Butts, Chair of the Review Panel, said: 

"Following the fall-out from the TV documentary 'The Secret Policeman', the review provides a timely in-depth assessment of the impact CRR training has on the views and behaviour of officers and civil staff at all levels in the MPS. The review found that although training was supported by senior officers and staff, there are still concerns about junior officers in terms of their readiness to embrace the ethos of training and also its ability to impact on operational policing.

"I look forward to the recommendations from the review having an impact on CRR training in the future." 

The review also looked at the extent to which CRR training has contributed to 'increasing the trust and confidence in policing amongst minority ethnic communities' and whether the diversity principles integral to the training have been assimilated into management systems and processes.

Cecile Wright, Chair of the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board, said:

"I welcome the final report and look forward to seeing the implementation of the recommendations by the MPS." 

The Institute for Employment Studies at the University of Sussex was commissioned to carry out the review which makes a total of 35 recommendations in the following categories:

• understanding why CRR training has to take place;
• embedding the training in need;
• ensuring impact;
• understanding if it works; and 
• specific recommendations for the MPA which include putting in place a clear set of objectives, agreeing a list of performance indicators and regular scrutiny.

Notes to editors

1. The Consultation, Diversity and Outreach Committee (restructured to EODB and Consultation Committee) recommended in December 2000 that the MPA should undertake a review of the MPS CRR Training. 
2. Cindy Butts, Chair of the Consultation Committee (then Deputy Chair of the CDO committee), was given lead responsibility to work with the MPS to progress this area of work.
3. The MPA commissioned the Institute for Employment Studies at the University of Sussex to carry out this extensive independent review of CRR Training in the MPS in October 2002.
4. In 1999, the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report recommended that 'racism awareness training should be put in place "based upon the value of our diversity, and delivered in order to develop the full understanding that good community relations are essential to good policy and that a racist officer is an incompetent officer".
5. Recommendation 49 states that "all police officers, including CID and civilian staff, should be trained in racism awareness valuing cultural diversity", and Recommendation 50 "that police training and practical experience in the field of racism awareness and valuing cultural diversity should regularly be conducted at local level. It should be recognised that local minority ethnic communities should be involved in such training and experience."
6. These recommendations, alongside a series of reports from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and others have been the major recent drivers in the development of the MPS CRR and Diversity training.
7. The MPS Diversity Training (CRR) was specifically developed to meet Recommendations 16, 49 and 50 of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry. The training has been commended by HMIC, the Home Office and others and is regarded very highly by many police forces nationally and internationally
8. The executive summary of the review can be found on the MPA website
9.  The full review is available on request from the CDO unit at the Metropolitan Police Authority 0207 202 0227 

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