Just one in 253 West Midlands Police recruits is black

Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson has told in-coming Chief Constable David Thompson that the force needs to 'up its game' with just 13 per cent of officers currently from minority backgrounds.

Thirty per cent of residents in the region are black, Asian, mixed-race or other.

Figures published by his office to highlight the severity of the problem, reveals that more than 80 per cent of recruits since 2014 are white.

The force is halfway through the process of taking on 450 new officer.

Mr Jamieson said: "The force clearly needs to up its game. Since I called on West Midlands Police to improve its performance in this area in April, much effort has been made, but progress has been at a glacial pace.

"I recently re-affirmed my commitment to complete the recruitment of 450 police officers. We have recruited just over half of that number so far.

"With that in mind it is even more important than ever that the police make even more substantial changes with the next half and ensure that people from all of our communities are applying to be officers.

"West Midlands Police correctly only recruits the best people, but there needs to be a step change in the way that the force engages with different communities to make sure that people from all of our communities apply to be officers and are successful."

Of the 253 recruits, 214 were white, 20 were Asian, 13 mixed race, and five not stated, and just one was black.

It comes as figures revealed that black police officers were more likely to be complained against.

Complaints against black officers make up 2.2 per cent of all complaints while they only make up 1.9 per cent of all officers.

Complaints against mixed race officers also made up 2.1 per cent of all complaints while only making up 1.8 per cent of officers.

Male officer were was also disproportionally complained about with 77.9 per cent of all complaints while only 58.7 per cent of officers are men.

In-coming Chief Constable Dave Thompson said the figures were 'of concern' and that it was likely because a greater number of officers from ethnic minority backgrounds worked in frontline roles likely to attract more complaints.

Mr Jamieson said: "Making the police look more like the communities they serve is important. It is also important to ensure that once officers are recruited they are treated fairly and not disproportionally. Highlighting the data we have on disproportionality is a key part of being transparent, open with the public and showing that I am not afraid to ask difficult questions to make sure that I am holding the police to account."