John White
2009-02-21 09:36:49 UTC
Police are to scrap controversial race 'diversity' targets that made it
harder for white men to win jobs.
The decision could end the positive discrimination which has seen ethnic
minority applicants selected where white rivals were at least as well
qualified.
The targets were imposed after police were labelled institutionally racist
in the 1999 Macpherson Report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence.
Forces were told to recruit ethnic minority officers in direct proportion to
the make-up of their local community.
The targets, dictated by Whitehall, left many forces under severe pressure
to employ thousands of black and other minority groups as soon as possible.
Some overstepped the mark into positive discrimination.
Gloucestershire Police even went to the extent of 'deselecting' more than
100 potential recruits purely because they were white.
The force later admitted it had acted unlawfully.
Now police minister Vernon Coaker has decided central targets can be
dropped, even though few areas have met them. Individual forces will be able
to decide their own recruitment pattern.
harder for white men to win jobs.
The decision could end the positive discrimination which has seen ethnic
minority applicants selected where white rivals were at least as well
qualified.
The targets were imposed after police were labelled institutionally racist
in the 1999 Macpherson Report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence.
Forces were told to recruit ethnic minority officers in direct proportion to
the make-up of their local community.
The targets, dictated by Whitehall, left many forces under severe pressure
to employ thousands of black and other minority groups as soon as possible.
Some overstepped the mark into positive discrimination.
Gloucestershire Police even went to the extent of 'deselecting' more than
100 potential recruits purely because they were white.
The force later admitted it had acted unlawfully.
Now police minister Vernon Coaker has decided central targets can be
dropped, even though few areas have met them. Individual forces will be able
to decide their own recruitment pattern.