Met chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe: change the law for a more diverse police force

 
Fitness tests: Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said unfit officers face losing their jobs
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27 March 2014

Scotland Yard chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe today called for a change in the law to allow positive discrimination to recruit more ethnic minority officers in London.

Sir Bernard said there should be a five year period of 50/50 recruitment for white and ethnic minority officers so the force reflected the diversity of London’s population.

He wants to replicate a radical Northern Ireland system which saw a temporary change in the law to allow one Catholic officer recruited for every Protestant officer.

Speaking on BBC London radio, he said the Met was currently recruiting one in five officers from ethnic minorities but “at that rate we will not get there and I think a 50-50 scheme for a short time would be a good idea.”

He admitted black people were still 2.5 times more likely to be stopped by police officers in London than white people - but the figure had fallen from six times more likely since he had ordered a review of stop and search practices.

Sir Bernard was speaking as the force faced ongoing criticism over the shredding of files into alleged corrupt officers in the force more than 10 years ago.

Asked by one listener if he ever wanted to give it all up he replied : “No, I am not defeatist by nature.”

He added: “I love my job. It is challenging but I am fortunate to lead some fantastic people and I am proud of them.”

He said he could not turn the clock back but police would co-operate with the various inquiries into the Met.

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But he said a claim that Scotland Yard had failed to act upon death threats made against the mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence was inaccurate.

The allegation was made by Home Affairs Select Committee chairman Keith Vaz after a heated session with Sir Bernard earlier this week.

Sir Bernard told the radio station: “It was inaccurate to say we had not followed it up but we have not got to the bottom of the inquiry yet.”

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