The National Black Police Association has withdrawn its support for the chief constables’ plan to address discrimination within the ranks, citing a “toxic” environment that has hindered the careers of black and Asian officers. The NBPA accused police leaders of failing to deliver on promises of reform, leading to a potential collapse of credibility on race within the police force. The NBPA president, Insp Andy George, expressed concerns about the flawed working environment and lack of value placed on the experiences and views of black people. The NBPA is considering making their boycott of the plan permanent, as they believe the current race action plan cannot continue in its current format. Former Met assistant commissioner Neil Basu described the situation as a “disastrous moment for policing,” highlighting the need for credible reform efforts to be led by those with real power to force through improvements.
Police in race crisis as minority ethnic officers end support for action plan | Police
Policing has been plunged into a “disastrous” new race crisis after the National Black Police Association withdrew its support for the chief constables’ flagship plan to stamp out discrimination in the ranks.
The NBPA, which represents thousands of minority ethnic officers across the UK, accused police leaders of breaking years of promises to reform and allowing a “toxic” environment to destroy or blight the careers of black and Asian officers.
Chiefs are planning crisis talks to avert the potential collapse of their credibility on race, and one of the most senior minority ethnic officers to ever serve in British policing told the Guardian he quit because his fellow bosses lacked the will to change.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council in 2020 announced a race action plan for England and Wales, vowing to end decades of discrimination and greater use of force against black British communities which it said threatened police’s legitimacy.
It came as a direct result of the murder in the US of George Floyd by a police officer, which triggered protests across the globe.
The NBPA president, Insp Andy George, said: “We believe that the working environment is toxic and the experiences and views of black people and civil society organisations are neither listened to nor valued.
“This is not an environment that the NBPA can endorse or be a part of.”
Next month the NBPA leadership will meet to decide whether its boycott is made permanent, and George said: “We are clear that at this time and in its current format the national race action plan cannot continue.”
The NBPA has spent weeks trying to balance involvement in a plan it felt was flawed against the loss of influence in trying to improve any reforms.
However, George said: “Over the last four years we have seen a significant increase in the need for support of our members who are experiencing racism and discrimination and a decrease in positive experiences of policing for black people.”
It also accuses some chiefs of setting up their own groups for minority ethnic officers and staff to “gaslight” communities and quell criticism. Next week an employment tribunal brought by an officer who worked on the plan for the police chiefs is expected to start.
The former Met assistant commissioner Neil Basu, who served as Britain’s most senior counter-terrorism officer, told the Guardian: “This is a disastrous moment for policing. The NBPA represents thousands of officers and staff across the country. Communities will be looking on aghast at the promises that have not been kept.
“Chief constables have had many opportunities to deliver a credible plan and have chosen not to do so.”
The NBPA says chiefs should be ousted from spearheading the efforts to reform their forces, and did not rule out the Home Office taking over. It said: “This work must be taken out of the hands of chief constables and a national race action plan must be developed, implemented and embedded which has real power to force through improvements in all police services.”
Basu retired in 2022 and said his colleagues’ lack of commitment to race reforms led him to leave. Labour has consulted him as it prepares for government, and he said: “I hope a change of government will change the approach by chiefs.
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“I hope a new government will realise how important this is for the safety of communities and not just morally the right thing to do.”
Chief constable Gavin Stephens, the chair of the NPCC who leads the race action plan, said: “We have invited them [NBPA] to meet with us to discuss their concerns and hopefully reach a position where they feel they can continue to support the plan moving forward.
“There has been a renewed sense of purpose and direction under the new leadership of the plan since September 2023 and we plan on publishing our first ever progress report on the plan in a matter of weeks. This will give people a sense of what we have achieved and our future direction.
“What is not in question is that we will continue to listen to and seek the views of the NBPA to ensure the plan delivers for their members and black communities.”
Read the full story on www.theguardian.com
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jun/20/police-in-race-crisis-as-minority-ethnic-officers-end-support-for-action-plan