Written question asked by Lord Howard of Rising (Conservative) on Wednesday, 6 January 2021, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 20 January 2021. It was answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford (Conservative) on Thursday, 21 January 2021 on behalf of the Home Office.

Police: Recruitment

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they have given to police forces in England and Wales on the recruitment of staff to implement diversity and inclusion policies; and whether any such advice included consideration of the value for money requirements of any such recruitment.

Answer: The Home Office does not advise forces on the recruitment of police staff or how they are best deployed. This is a matter for operationally independent Chief Constables and democratically accountable Police and Crime Commissioners who are best placed to make decisions based on their local knowledge and experience. The College of Policing, as the professional body for policing in England and Wales, provides general guidance to forces on attraction and recruitment. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) published its first Diversity, Equality and Inclusion strategy in October 2018. This is complemented by a workforce representation toolkit which includes practical actions forces can take to increase the recruitment, retention and progression of officers from under-represented groups in policing. Discussions in the National Policing Board during last year, chaired by the Home Secretary, have focused the minds of police leaders on representation in policing. The NPCC has committed to leading further work in this area, alongside the College of Policing, to increase accountability for diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Secondary information