CRE Interim Report of Investigation into Police Service in England and Wales - MPA Response

43/04
14 Jun 2004

Responding to the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) investigation into the police service of England and Wales published today, Richard Barnes, acting chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority said:

“The MPA welcomes the interim findings of the CRE investigation as we acknowledge that race equality and fairness at work are crucial to both external community and internal staff relations.

“The MPA has worked tirelessly since it was created four years ago to ensure that we are meeting our own requirements under the Race Relation’s Amendment Act 2000. We have established an innovative programme of Equality Impact Assessments to ensure that we are meeting the General and Specific duties of the Act. The MPA has also established an External Reference Group of key voluntary, statutory and community organisations, to work with us to scrutinise the progress that we, and the Met, are making to develop our Race Equality schemes”.

“We have worked with determination to ensure communities are engaged in our activities in order to increase confidence and trust in the policing of London, drive forward the MPS to achieve a more representative workforce, and address concerns about fairness at work for ethnic minority officers and police staff.

“We are pleased that the CRE has acknowledged the integrity of the independent Morris Inquiry, set up by the MPA, into professional standards and employment matters in the MPS, whose recommendations and subsequent implementation by the MPS are likely to influence the CRE’s own investigation. “

During the first four year term of office the MPA has commissioned extensive and influential scrutinies and reports that have addressed both external community relations and internal employment issues including:

• published the MPA Race Equality Scheme
• initiated the independent Morris Inquiry;
• conducted the Virdi Inquiry;
• carried out the Stop and Search Scrutiny making 55 recommendations to improve MPS practice in this contentious area;
• carried out a review of MPS Community Race Relations training by an independent body;
• overseen the MPS’s recruitment and retention policy which has recently secured the 2000th ethnic minority officer; and
• initiated and supported the Pan London Race Hate Forum.

In conclusion, Richard said:

“The Race Relations Amendment Act 2000, drawn up in response to the Macpherson Report, places a duty on all public bodies to actively promote racial equality. It is the role of the MPA to ensure the MPS implements policies and practices that will positive promote good race relations in its dealings with London’s communities and MPS staff.

“The MPA has been working closely with the MPS to ensure full compliance with the requirements of the legislation. The Authority would want to ensure that, for its part, it is held as an example of good practice and fully supports the Met in progressing its Race Equality Scheme.

“The MPA is committed to fulfil the requirements of the legislation and we will be willing to meet with the CRE to discuss any further progress that may be required. “

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