Police: Recruitment and Retention

Debate between Baroness Osamor and Baroness Williams of Trafford

Tuesday 12th February 2019 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My noble friend points to an area where we are doing very badly: the senior ranks. In 2017-18, 27% of new recruits to the Met Police were from a BME background. To get people from BME backgrounds through to the senior ranks, we need new recruits as the pipeline for the future. She talked about role models, and I take this opportunity to give my good wishes to the brother of my right honourable friend the Home Secretary as he proceeds up the ranks of the police.

[Baroness Osamor (Lab)]

My Lords, the recommendations in the inquiry begin by talking about:

“Openness, accountability and the restoration of confidence”,


and the need:

“To increase trust and confidence in policing among minority ethnic communities”.


What level of confidence is there in policing among the black and ethnic-minority communities?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, it is certainly something that we have to work on and that the police have to work on. Whether you are talking about a democratic system or organisations such as the police, you need recruits from BME backgrounds because it is important that they look like and are in tune with the communities that they serve.