Proposals to introduce positive discrimination in the police force have come under fire before they have even been formally launched.

The Association of Chief Police Officers, which has been discussing the issue with the government, believes there is little chance of forces reaching the government’s target of recruiting 7% of officers from ethnic minority backgrounds by 2009 without the reforms. Currently only 2.9% of recruits come from minority backgrounds.

The plan has come under fire from representatives of the Police Federation and the National Black Police Association. No specific proposals have been published, but they could include financial support or courses aimed at minorities.

Positive discrimination at the employment stage would currently be illegal and would require changes to be made to anti-discrimination legislation before it could be brought in.