This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Criminal Cases Review Commission report
26/06/2003
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary today published a report on police race relations in Scotland.
Pride and Prejudice - a review of police race relations in Scotland, follows on from previous reports and recommendations in this area of policing, including those on the murders of Stephen Lawrence and Surjit Singh Chhokar.
The Report makes 24 recommendations to Chief Constables on the next steps for police race relations in Scotland.
The key recommendations include:
- Ensuring proper attention is given to community cohesion and stability across Scotland
- Broadening and deepening existing consultation with minority ethnic people, with a particular focus on those groups perceived as 'hard to reach' e.g. minority ethnic young people and women
- Improving levels of senior liaison and dialogue in Scotland on the issues of immigration and asylum
- Carrying out a needs analysis of information required on policing and related matters by minority ethnic people in Scotland
- Pursuing vigorously positive action in recruiting minority ethnic police officers, with an increasing focus on police support staff and special constables
- Fulfilling the desire for a minority ethnic police framework in Scotland
Sir Roy Cameron, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, said:
"This review of police race relations in Scotland offers a strategic analysis of the status of police race relations in Scotland. It is clear that much has been done, with programmes of reform well underway on many issues, including police training, community consultation, and responding to racist incidents. It is equally clear that much remains to be done and HMIC detected a strong desire within the police forces of Scotland to push on with the agenda of reform.
"During the review, it was apparent to HMIC that police race relations in Scotland is dynamic, with emerging issues presenting themselves as challenges to be addressed and overcome alongside the already established concerns.
"Consequently, there is a focus in the Report on the subjects of community cohesion, asylum and immigration, and the link between international tensions and domestic policing. These are issues which HMIC sees as providing significant challenges for police services in the future."
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said:
"I welcome this report and I am pleased to see that progress has been made and am confident this progress will continue as police forces build on the work which has already been done.
"The people in Scotland deserve a police service which works to meet the needs of everyone, taking account of cultural, religious and language difference. When racism occurs in the community, the police must be swift to respond and effective in the way they do it.
"HMIC highlights some important areas which chief constables will now wish to give attention to. Indeed, I know that some issues are already being addressed and the Scottish Executive will play its part in assisting with this process."
Pride And Prejudice - A Review Of Police Race Relations In Scotland is published today and can be obtained on the HMIC website at .
Executive summaries of the report are available in English, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Gaelic, Punjabi and Urdu. Contact HMIC on 0131 244 5614.