Update on the Plan of Action for inclusion and race equality in policing

Following the death of George Floyd in the USA and protests across the world, policing leaders from across the UK committed to act on issues of diversity and inclusion and concerns about racial inequalities, including the experiences of Black people, in policing and the criminal justice system.

We reaffirmed our commitment to tackle the wrongs of racism, bias and discrimination wherever they are found in policing. 

We have listened to the concerns of those with experience of, and insights into what needs to change and come together to propose a process that can turn our commitments into effective action.

Together, we will:

• Carry on listening to lived experience and concerns, and collate the evidence;
• Coordinate responsive action to those concerns across the service, leading from the top, and working with our partners;
• Draw on external expertise;
• Make changes before the end of 2020 where we can, and be ambitious in creating a long term programme to deliver lasting change;
• And be held rigorously to account.

How?

Communities’ concerns will form the bedrock of our agenda for change and an independent scrutiny and oversight board will help us to agree the ambition, the priority issues and action we will take in response.  They will then hold the service to account for delivering change.

Police leaders must be responsible for delivery so a programme board will be established chaired by us as Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council and Chief Executive of the College of Policing.  The board will be formed of leaders from across the service and those who can bring about change.

During August, we will secure expert help to assist us with designing the right programme set-up, membership and governance.  We will also be seeking assistance to run an open, independent process to recruit a scrutiny panel and its Chair, and develop appropriate processes for consultation.  We will seek Board members who can draw on a range of experiences to challenge and scrutinise us. 

We expect the Scrutiny Board to be in place by October when it can review our proposed plan to focus initial work on five key areas:

1. Evidence: Data collection and analysis
2. Internal culture and inclusivity
3. Use of powers: to include use of force and stop and search
4. Community Relations
5. Communication

We recognise that this work is urgent so we will look to immediately enact change where we can starting this year - but delivering lasting change takes time, so this will be a long term programme running at least until the end of 2021.

We held a session of Chief Constables Council earlier this month that brought together a range of people with experience of, and insight into these issues within policing. We heard honesty, real challenge and anger.  We also heard hope and commitment to drive change - from staff associations, policing bodies, independent advisory groups and individuals.

In the coming weeks, we will be in touch with all those who took part to harness that commitment and discuss how they can continue to influence and support this work. We will also work with experts to define how best to engage the external views which we will need to make progress.

Thank you,