News

Police admit recruit flop


28/ 7/2003

By Steve Hammond

THE number of new Asian and black police officers in Greater Manchester has dropped dramatically despite a force-wide recruitment drive.
Figures released by Greater Manchester Police show that only 11 Asian and black officers joined the force in the 12 months to the end of March - which is only a third of the number recruited 1`2 months earlier and less than half the 24 recruited in 2000/2001.
GMP say they are "very disappointed" with the recruitment totals.
The performance is poor set against the Home Office target which requires GMP to recruit 35 ethnic minority officers each year with a view pushing up the proportion of black or ethnic minority officers to seven per cent of the total force.
At present a total of 236 - 3.2 per cent - of GMP officers have an ethnic minority background.
More progress has been made in non-uniformed areas. The number of ethnic minority support staff rose by 20 in the year of March 2003. They represent three per cent of total support staff.
The majority of Asian and black officers in GMP are police constables but 25 have reached the rank of sergeant, while nine are inspectors with one a chief inspector and one a superintendent.
The North Manchester division has the greatest proportion of ethnic minority officers, 4.17 per cent followed by Oldham, 4.11 per cent.
Shortly after the figures were released GMP Chief Constable Michael Todd made a special appeal for ethnic minorities to consider joining the force.
He has set a target of 800 staff recruits by March next year and wants at least 40 of these to become Asian or black officers.
Andrew Marston, GMP's Personnel Director said: "We are very disappointed that, despite our best efforts to employ more officers from minority ethnic backgrounds, our figures for the year to March 2003 reveal that our actual recruitment rate reduced compared with recent years.
"Many recruiting initiatives have taken place around the Greater Manchester area in the last 12 months. These have included the recent minority ethnic recruiting weekend at GMP's Sedgley Park training college; the expansion of our positive action team which is a group of officers specifically dedicated to encouraging people from minority ethnic groups to join GMP; attending numerous festivals and public events; holding familiarisation workshops and access courses; attendance at community presentations, job fairs, sporting events, etc.
"This is in addition to a large amount of general and targeted advertising to attract recruits from all backgrounds as part of our Project 800 recruiting programme where we hope to attract around 800 police officers by March 2004. We currently have a substantial number of minority ethnic applicants and we are hopeful that this will result in our target of 40 minority ethnic police recruits and 20 support staff by March 2004 being met."
Anyone interested in talking about joining GMP, should contact the recruitment unit, tel: 0161 856 2333 or log onto www.gmp-recruitment.co.uk


Have your say
 
Have your say Got an opinion you want to share?
Register now and have your comments heard.

Register now

Latest stories
 

 
Personal Finance
 

Customers with a 'good' credit profile
Company Typical APR
Platinum Exclusive Loan 7.8%
Halifax (Semi-exclusive) 8.6%
Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) 8.6%
Alliance & Leicester 8.7%
Lloyds TSB 8.9%
HASH(0x14662ee0)
Provider AER*
ICICI BANK
HiSAVE Savings Account 		5.50%
PRINCIPALITY BS
e-SAVER 		5.35%
ANGLO IRISH BANK
Easy Access Account Issue 2 		5.25%
FIRST DIRECT
Everyday e-Saver 		2.75%
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER
Online Tracker 		4.75%
BRADFORD & BINGLEY
eSavings 6 		4.60%
SAINSBURYS FINANCE
Internet Saver 		3.50%
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER
eSaver - Issue 2 		5.00%
POST OFFICE
Instant Saver 		3.75%
Fees may apply