Met Police to ‘reflect diversity’ by recruiting exclusively from London

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is to recruit exclusively from Londoners to fill the ranks of new police constables, in a bid to ensure the force is “more resilient and more reflective of the city it serves”, the MPS announced in a statement on its website.
Wed, 16 Jul 2014
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is to recruit exclusively from Londoners to fill the ranks of new police constables, in a bid to ensure the force is “more resilient and more reflective of the city it serves”, the MPS announced in a statement on its website.

Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe and London Mayor Boris Johnson have said that from the beginning of August, only candidates who have lived in Greater London for three of the last six years will now be eligible to apply at entry level.

Hogan-Howe said that with London’s population becoming “even more diverse” it was essential that workforce is able to “maintain the trust and confidence of London’s communities”.

“Recruiting constables with a knowledge and understanding of this reality through living in the capital makes sense to help us achieve this aim," he added.

The policy change will not affect serving officers, existing MPS police staff, members of the Special Constabulary or existing police officers seeking to transfer from other UK forces.

People who live outside Greater London will still be able to apply to become an MPS Special Constable, Police Community Support Officer, or member of police staff or under the existing recruitment process for a Police Constable until 31 July, the statement said.

The deputy mayor for policing and crime, Stephen Greenhalgh, said that the new policy was all about “competence rather than colour” and having “the diversity of talent needed to police a great global city”.

The policy change follows the Mayor of London’s Police and Crime Plan 2013-16, which restated his ambition to create a police force that reflects the city it serves.

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