Neyroud report says greater diversity 'would transform attitudes' and urges qualifications to boost quality of recruits
The police remain dominated by an "overwhelming white male culture" that still operates on "jobs for the boys" principles, according to an official inquiry into leadership and training.
The report by a former chief constable, Peter Neyroud, commissioned by the home secretary, Theresa May, says that greater representation of women and black and minority ethnic groups at all ranks would make the most difference to the culture of police forces.
But an equality assessment for the Neyroud review cites estimates that it will take 24 years at the current rate of progress to get to even 35% female representation in the three most senior ranks.
It also quotes estimates of 11 years before there is 7%, the national average in the community, of black and minority ethnic officers in the senior ranks, and a further seven and a half years to achieve that across the whole of the police.
Neyroud's review proposes that a new chartered professional institute of policing for the whole of the service be set up with a merged Association of Chief Police Officers as its "head and heart". Acpo would lose the "private company" status it has had since 1998.
Neyroud, who is the former head of the National Police Improvement Agency, also suggests a pre-entry qualification before recruits register and are sworn in as a constable, to drive up the quality of policing. The home secretary is to decide on the reforms in September after a 12-week consultation.
But the equality assessment warns that this pre-entry qualification proposal could hamper the recruitment of women and black and minority ethnic groups. Neyroud argues however that it will be possible to have several routes, including a college-based route, to the entry qualification to ensure that everyone was able to qualify. "The pervading and overwhelming male culture is the main barrier that has been referred to as the single thing that prevents the workforce changing into a more diverse organisation," says Neyroud's equality impact assessment. "At entry level the number of recruits to police officer ranks and community support officers has increased for women and people from BME communities. However, the culture, the systems and processes that have been developed and perpetuated by the dominant culture, needs to be reshaped so that women and BME officers and staff remain and prosper in the police service."
The response to consultation by the Neyroud review put it more bluntly: "Culture of the service and current set up is still predominantly white male, and BME officers still find it difficult to break through the ranks," says the review's summary of responses on the issue of race. "There is a lack of trust in the service that still exists in terms of 'walking the walk' rather than 'talking the talk'. These findings were mirrored when officers were asked about gender which also concluded that there is "still a perception that current processes maintain a 'jobs for the boys' culture."
The report adds that while there is a general view in the police that "it wants to do equality", it doesn't actually do enough to make it happen.
Neyroud acknowledges that the challenge of a more diverse police force, especially among its senior ranks, remains prominent. "Furthermore, the impact of three or four years of a largely static workforce is likely to be problematic in terms of making the type of progress," he said.
The Police Superintendents' Association said it supported having a new single professional body, but cautioned the home secretary to step carefully on pre-entry qualification. "One of the major strengths of our service is the broad base and diverse background of recruits, and careful management will be required to ensure that, if the recommendation is accepted to introduce pre-entry qualifications, we do not lose that range of life experience so valued by the creator of the modern police service, Sir Robert Peel," said its president, Derek Barnett.
Main points
• A new chartered institute of policing, incorporating the Association of Chief Police Officers.
•All officers to become independent members of a professional body.
• New pre-entry initial qualification to be compulsory for new police recruits.
• Council of chief constables to give local forces "operational leadership".
• Policing institute to headhunt potential future chief constables.
• Training to shift closer to further and higher education colleges.
• New qualifications to support frontline policing and investigation and specialist expertise.
• New national body for training in forensics, covert policing and firearms.