Black police officers reveal discrimination

Published on Sunday 16 July 2006 00:37

ALMOST one in eight black police officers in Scotland has raised complaints of racial discrimination against colleagues in the last two years.

Figures obtained by Scotland on Sunday show 14 out of 118 officers in the country's eight forces have made complaints ranging from unfair treatment to failure to proceed up the ranks.

They are understood to include two cases about to be brought before industrial tribunals, a development that could prove embarrassing to the Scottish Police Service.

Leroy Alexander, chair of Semper Scotland, the support organisation for ethnic minority police staff, said the force was "institutionally racist" and voiced concerns the problem might never be overcome.

The cases range from officers believing they were singled out for criticism after taking time off sick to others who complained they have not been offered the same level of training as their white colleagues. At least one officer has resigned after a three year career because of continual harassment.

One tribunal, understood to be against Northern Constabulary, involves a black officer who believes his probationary period was extended for no reason other than racism.

Alexander, a constable with Strathclyde Police, said: "Ethnic minority officers still feel that they have to go to extra lengths to prove that they are normal. Sometimes people just walk away because it's not worth the hassle.

"The problem is not the force itself but individuals within the force. Some are more enlightened than others. But individuals are always going to be the biggest problem, especially those within a management role. Racism will always be with us because there will always be someone looking to have the advantage over others. That is unfortunately the nature of our society. In that sense institutional racism remains a problem in the police force in Scotland."

Semper Scotland's figures show that from a total force strength of around 16,000 officers in Scotland, only 118 are recorded as black or Asian. All but 11 are of constable rank.

The problem of racism within the police force south of the Border were put in the spotlight with the high-profile Stephen Lawrence inquiry and the BBC's Secret Policeman expos about racism in the police.

Last year the Commission for Racial Equality found that despite "considerable efforts" by Scots police forces, not enough ethnic minority officers have been recruited. It said Scotland's forces were ahead of counterparts south of the Border in dealing with race relations but needed to "pick up the pace".

Law at Work, the company that compiled the report, found that many young black and Asian people did not want to join the police because of fears about racism.

Earlier this year Andrew Cameron, the lead police officer in Scotland for recruitment, admitted the force had too few black and ethnic minority members.

The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland has a range of plans to encourage more black recruits.

Norrie Flowers, chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, said: "We totally abhor racist behaviour. Equality and fairness have to prevail. If any police officer had experienced anything else in their service we would willingly fight their cause."