A Labour MP has broken with his party and slammed police chiefs for “woke overreach” over a fresh commitment to “become anti-racist.”
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) published an anti-racism commitment for all forces in the UK earlier this week.
The report calls for an end to racial disparities in policing outcomes.
The council, which represents senior officers across Britain, announced its race action plan initiative following the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.
A Labour MP has broken with his party and slammed police chiefs for 'woke overreach' over a fresh commitment to 'become anti-racist' (stock image)
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The commitment calls on police officers to recognise that "it is not enough for us to not be racist or to claim not to be racist."
The fresh report examines so-called "adultification bias" theory, which suggests black youths are wrongly "viewed as adults" when interacting with police.
It defines "adultification bias" as "a form of racial prejudice in which children of minority groups, particularly Black children, are viewed as being more mature or older than they really are".
Controversially, the report calls for an "end to racial disparities in ... outcomes", without clarifying whether that includes controlling for other factors, such as crime rates.
The report also endorses "racial equity" with Chief Constable Sir Andy Marsh sharing his "unwavering" commitment to it.
Racial equity is described in the report as requiring police to interact with “communities according to their specific needs, circumstances and experiences, with understanding that these will be racialised.”
The report explains that racial equity “does not mean treating everyone 'the same' or being 'colour blind' (racial equality).”
The report was endorsed by the government’s Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson, with the NPCC saying that the anti-racism commitment is at the “heart” of the publication.
But Labour MP Jonathan Hinder has broken with the minister to say that it is an example of “woke overreach.”
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The former frontline Met inspector told GB News: “For a Police Anti-Racism Commitment to suggest 'this does not mean treating everyone the same, or being colour blind' is baffling. As a police inspector, I took pride in the fact we policed 'without fear or favour', as did my colleagues.
“I know the NPCC are well-intentioned, and police officers should absolutely be educated on instances of police racism as part of their training, as I was.
“But the NPCC and the Sentencing Council are clearly reading from the same script, and their woke overreach risks badly damaging confidence in our public institutions.”
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick told GB News that the focus on “equity” risked attempting to re-engineer policing outcomes according to political whims.
“We need equality of treatment under the law, not attempts from the police to re-engineer outcomes to achieve equity. If individuals break the law, they must be punished evenly.”
Jenrick added: “Anything less creates a two-tier justice system and endangers the public.”
A frontline Met Police Officer, speaking to GB News on condition of anonymity, said: “This is policing officially endorsing two tier policing and being led by people who are too stupid to even realise it. God help us.”
Labour MP Jonathan Hinder has broken with the minister to say that it is an example of 'woke overreach'
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Chief Constable Sir Andy Marsh, CEO of the College of Policing, said: “This is an important benchmark for police forces to show they are serious about becoming fairer, stronger, and, crucially, better equipped to tackle crime and keep their communities safe.
“Cutting crime is a priority for all of us, and one of the most effective ways for policing to do this, is by increasing trust with all communities. This can lead to better cooperation with police appeals, more effective crime reporting, and a greater sense of safety among the public.
“We are committed to supporting policing to embed lasting change and to reshape the relationship between the police and the communities they serve.”
Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, added: “People from Black communities have the lowest levels of confidence in the police, are underrepresented in our workforce and are more likely to experience police powers such as stop and search or use of force.
“Recent independent inquiries by Baroness Louise Casey and Lady Elish Angiolini have also urged our service to renew its efforts to become anti-racist and address discrimination.
“This historic and ongoing mistrust between the police and Black communities risks for example people not reporting things to the police if they are in trouble or aiding our efforts to catch criminals.
“Explaining or reforming race disparities and addressing mistrust with Black communities will mean we are more effective at fighting crime and protecting all communities.”
