Ethnic minority police officers set up group to tackle racism

BLACK and Asian officers in the Metropolitan Police have set up a breakaway association in an effort to redress what they see as the failure of the Police Federation to tackle issues such as racism and the high drop-out rate among ethnic minority officers, writes Marianne Macdonald.

The Black and Asian Police Association is expected to launch next month with the support of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Paul Condon. It is understood to have a constitution and executive committee of 17 high-ranking black officers already in place.

It will act as a network group for its members and plans to provide support to those victimised by white colleagues.

Membership will be open to all ethnic minority members of the Metropolitan Police and its civilian staff.