Equality and diversity
Equality and diversity is at the core of how the police forces and fire & rescue services (FRS) engage and work with our communities. It is also critical for how they recruit staff to be representative of the communities they serve. Understanding their communities is essential. Disproportionality, or even a perception of it, can weaken public confidence which can hinder the work these services do.
The purpose of our inspections into equality and diversity is to bring about real and sustainable change to improve the experience of, and outcomes for, all members of the public. We are focusing on working with police forces and fire & rescue services to improve their understanding of equality and diversity.
This page sets out:
Background
In 2019, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) led a review into the disproportionate use of police power which was later published. This identified that people from ethnic minority backgrounds were over four times more likely to be stopped and searched by the police than white people, with black members of the community nearly nine times more likely to be stopped and searched.
We will undertake further thematic inspections. This will include a joint inspection on race and policing (see below). This is due to the significant and persistent under-representation of people from ethnic minority backgrounds in policing and fire & rescue services following the attention that was shone on policing following the tragic murder of George Floyd.
Our reports
Our recent HMICFRS-led thematic reports that highlight equality and diversity are focused on stop and search.
Stop and search reports
Our first report on this subject was published in 2013. All follow-up reports are listed below in chronological order.
Stop and search powers: are the police using them effectively and fairly? – July 2013
In December 2011 the Home Secretary commissioned HMIC to carry out an inspection into the use of stop and search legislation by police forces in England and Wales.
In our report, we found that police use of stop and search powers is too often ineffective in tackling crime and procedurally incorrect, thereby threatening the legitimacy of the police.
Follow-up reports
Stop and search powers 2: are the police using them effectively and fairly? – March 2015
Best use of stop and search revisits – September 2016
Best use of stop and search – second revisits – February 2017
Disproportionate use of police powers – A spotlight on stop and search and the use of force – February 2021
Upcoming reports
Race and policing programme
In 2021/22 we started a new programme of activity which will compliment and build upon our previous and ongoing inspection work.
We aim to undertake several thematic inspections starting with the contribution of police national leadership and governance arrangements of race issues within policing.
In 2022/23 we will conduct a further thematic inspection in to whether there is disproportionality in decision making through the criminal justice system.
Later inspection activity will look at other aspects of race-based inequalities and apparent disparities that negatively affect community confidence, including internal workforce factors. We will publish more details in due course.
Getting help
If you think you are being discriminated against, you can find information on GOV.UK: Discrimination: your rights about what you can do.