West Midlands Police chief pledges to recruit 1,000 BAME officers
A top West Midlands police official has pledged to recruit 1,000 new officers from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.
The region's Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said the force needed to "look more" like the communities it serves.
And he urged people who may be sceptical towards joining to think again and "change" the organisation from within.
Mr Jamieson said: "A variety of issues have brought people onto the streets over recent weeks, but equality and fairness is at the core.
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"That requires the Government to step up and ensure that there are opportunities for all communities so that everyone can reach their potential, as well as the courts, health service and other agencies who influence our day to day lives. For policing there are key actions too.
"There is no simple solution, but what will make a bigger difference than anything else is ensuring that our force looks much more like the communities it serves.
"Presently only 10.9 per cent of our officers are from BAME communities. That is an improvement from when I became PCC but is still not good enough."
At least 1,200 new officers are set to be recruited over the next three years – with 2,750 people needed in total to fill the gaps left behind by retirements.
Currently, out of the force's 6,495 officers, 706 are from a BAME background, according to Home Office figures relating to September last year.
In 2014, there were 7,162 officers, with 611 – or 8.5 per cent – being from a BAME background.
Mr Jamieson added: "After a decade of shrinking officer numbers there is finally now the chance to properly address that.
"Over the next three years the number of police officers is set to increase by at least 1,200. That will require 2,750 people to be recruited to fill the gaps left behind by retirements and those leaving the force. I am committed to ensuring 1,000 of those new officers will be from BAME communities.
"This requires an increase in effort by West Midlands Police, but also requires those who have been sceptical towards joining the police to think again. I say to those people, if you want to change policing, then the best way is to get involved and join yourself. Change the organisation from within.
"The Chief Constable of West Midlands Police shares my commitment to make the force look like the communities it serves. This figure I hope will give even more focus to those efforts."
Jay Singh-Sohal, the Conservative candidate for West Midlands PCC at next year's election, said: "It's good to see the Labour PCC taking forward my campaign pledge to diversify West Midlands Police.
"We need our police to better reflect our communities, but this has to be based on trust and fairness.
"I will be watching very closely to see if this is actually being delivered."
