Vocal Voices

The Home Affairs Committee, chaired by one of the nastiest politicians from any party, Keith Vaz, has gone all wobbly at the knees because black and minority ethnic (BME) officer numbers do not represent the wider community. Vaz has attacked the police saying the figures are "unacceptable", "stark and shocking".

He goes on:

In order to police by consent in 21st century Britain, the police service must mirror the communities they represent, in religion, race and ethnicity.

I am OK with that, but how will it be achieved? The police cannot force BMEs to apply so will it come down to positive discrimination or possibly quotas? Will entry standards be lowered so that more people can pass just to make the pool of candidates larger?

I fear that all three will play a part just to satisfy the "Diversity" agenda.

The job is open for anyone to apply and meet the criteria. Unless suitable candidates are quite deliberately rejected because of there race or colour, I dont see anything stark or shocking.

If they carry on about this senseless need for the police to be representative
of the population at large, why don't they recruit some criminals - there are
enough of them about.

I am surprised. This supercilious twit has a position of importance in Government.. Not too long ago, wasn't he involved in some scandal?

My son passed his Inspector grade but he was told it had to go to an ethnic minority applicant as they had too many white inspectors

Nanna, that is disgusting, buy it is (wrongly) how the modern world turns. To me positive discrimination is still discrimination, it should always be the best person for the job.

I also saw that the 'agenda' is at work in the Fire Service. Apparently 96% are male and 95% white. So what?

What I do not get is how those in charge hope to get BMEs to apply. It is not as though these positions are closed to sections of society.