Valuing difference and inclusion

Why does the police service in England and Wales need to be diverse?

Today the United Kingdom is a truly diverse and multi-cultural country and needs to have a police service that not only represents the diversity but also understands the community needs. The services that we provide has to meet the community needs. The police service has undergone significant change over the past thirty years but as recent events in America have shown there are still barriers between the police and community in terms of perception. To police any major city effectively requires the police to have the full confidence of the communities they serve, as well as its own staff. They can only tackle the crime priorities of the community of gun, knife crime and terrorism if the police work together with the diverse communities.

What is the diversity of the police service?

At the end of March 2020, 92.7% of police officers were White and 7.3% were from Asian, Black, Mixed and Other ethnic background. In England and Wales, 6.9% of officers are from ethnic minority backgrounds, compared to 14% of the population.

How many police officers are female?

In 2020 there were 40,319 female police officers, making up 31% of police officers in England and Wales. The number of female officers increased by 8%, compared with the previous year and the proportion of female police officers has increased in every year over the past decade.

How are the police service trying to improve their diversity?

The National Police Chiefs Council published The Policing Vision 2025 which aims to create a culture that values difference and diversity and empowers individuals to maximise their contribution through continuous professional development to ensure the public receive the highest standard of policing.

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