NCJ Number
205656
Date Published
2004
Length
191 pages
Annotation
This book examines the context and background of the British police service's interaction with minority ethnic communities, assesses the impact of the Lawrence Report (investigation of the events surrounding a racist murder), and reviews the increasing police emphasis on proactively countering racism in both crime and non-crime situations.
Abstract
Much of the material in this book is based in a series of studies conducted for the British Home Office and various police services to gauge the effectiveness of community and race relations as well as diversity training for police officers. One chapter explores the impact of the training. Interviews conducted in the course of these studies provided an opportunity to ask officers and civilian staff a wide range of questions about the nature of race and racism within the police service, their attitudes toward minority ethnic groups, and the impact the Lawrence Inquiry had on policing. The interviews were conducted between 1999 and 2003 and involved approximately 218 individuals from 3 of the major metropolitan police services in England and Wales, along with 2 smaller, more mixed constabularies. The book is structured around the key issues that emerged directly from the Lawrence Report and that have continued to be debated. One chapter examines the long-standing efforts of the police service to increase the recruitment of minority officers. Other chapters discuss racism and the role of police culture; community and race-relations training for police; stop-and-search practices and minority reactions to it; racist incidents, policing, and "hate crimes;" accountability and complaints; and policing diversity. The author notes in the book's conclusion that the police efforts to develop more positive interactions with ethnic minority communities have also led to a consideration of fundamental issues in the relationship of the police to society as a whole. Reasons for the slow pace of gains in improving the trust and confidence of minority communities in the police are discussed. 200 references and a subject index