Police risk breaking equality laws by tipping off candidates
29 May 2014
Police have risked breaking equality laws by tipping off ethnic minority candidates about the rare chance to become a PC.
Thu, 29 May 2014
Police have risked breaking equality laws by tipping off ethnic minority candidates about the rare chance to become a PC.
During a recruitment drive in March, Nottinghamshire Police advertised 20 new police officer roles on their own website and intranet. However, they also sent out 57 emails on the day to inform black and minority ethincs (BME) interested in becoming members of the force that the jobs had come up.
The jobs were not advertised publicly, so many hopefuls – including volunteers and civilian staff waiting to join the front line – missed the chance to apply.
Steps to improve equality in the workplace, known as positive action, are legal and encouraged by Labour’s 2010 Equality Act. But positive discrimination – giving a minority group preferential treatment – is illegal.
Tory MP Dominic Raab was reported in The Daily Mail accusing the force of breaking the rules when it comes to the Equalities Act 2010 and giving an unfair advantage to those candidates over others.
However, although these claims were reportedly made, Recruiter was unable to contact Raab for comment.
Anne Tynan, an equality & diversity consultant, said that “providing a legitimate selection process follows – with candidates chosen for their ability to do the job – one could say that Nottinghamshire Police have shown initiative rather than favouritism”.
“In some situations, ‘positive’ or ‘affirmative action’ will be the only way to redress imbalances. For police forces, it is particularly important that they represent the BME community.”
According to Tynan, police officers should be “representative of their local communities”, but this is not currently the case with Nottinghamshire Police force.
Just 4% of the Nottinghamshire Police is BME, compared to 11% of the county’s population. The figure rises to 28% in the city of Nottingham itself.
A police spokesperson said: “For many months we have been working with members of our communities who are interested in pursuing a career in policing.
“Working within the legal boundaries of positive action, we have provided access to training and support and given encouragement and motivation through work with mentors and seminars.”
Police have risked breaking equality laws by tipping off ethnic minority candidates about the rare chance to become a PC.
During a recruitment drive in March, Nottinghamshire Police advertised 20 new police officer roles on their own website and intranet. However, they also sent out 57 emails on the day to inform black and minority ethincs (BME) interested in becoming members of the force that the jobs had come up.
The jobs were not advertised publicly, so many hopefuls – including volunteers and civilian staff waiting to join the front line – missed the chance to apply.
Steps to improve equality in the workplace, known as positive action, are legal and encouraged by Labour’s 2010 Equality Act. But positive discrimination – giving a minority group preferential treatment – is illegal.
Tory MP Dominic Raab was reported in The Daily Mail accusing the force of breaking the rules when it comes to the Equalities Act 2010 and giving an unfair advantage to those candidates over others.
However, although these claims were reportedly made, Recruiter was unable to contact Raab for comment.
Anne Tynan, an equality & diversity consultant, said that “providing a legitimate selection process follows – with candidates chosen for their ability to do the job – one could say that Nottinghamshire Police have shown initiative rather than favouritism”.
“In some situations, ‘positive’ or ‘affirmative action’ will be the only way to redress imbalances. For police forces, it is particularly important that they represent the BME community.”
According to Tynan, police officers should be “representative of their local communities”, but this is not currently the case with Nottinghamshire Police force.
Just 4% of the Nottinghamshire Police is BME, compared to 11% of the county’s population. The figure rises to 28% in the city of Nottingham itself.
A police spokesperson said: “For many months we have been working with members of our communities who are interested in pursuing a career in policing.
“Working within the legal boundaries of positive action, we have provided access to training and support and given encouragement and motivation through work with mentors and seminars.”
