Met chief says ‘toxicity’ around DEI will not stop him recruiting more black and Asian officers
Summary
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley said the police must hire more black and Asian officers to build trust with London’s minority ethnic communities. He emphasized that diversity is essential for effective policing and said he will continue recruitment efforts despite criticism about diversity programs.Key Facts
- Mark Rowley is the head of the Metropolitan Police, Britain’s largest police force.
- About 46% of London’s population is from minority ethnic groups, but only 18% of Met officers are from these backgrounds.
- Black officers make up 3.7% of the Met, while black people represent 13.5% of London’s population.
- Rowley said recruiting more minority officers is necessary for fair and effective policing based on community trust.
- Some groups say diversity hiring lowers standards, but Rowley disagrees and calls that wrong.
- The Met was declared institutionally racist by inquiries in 1999 and 2023, findings Rowley partly accepts but finds politicized.
- Rowley criticized other leaders for avoiding the diversity debate and said he will not be stopped by negative opinions around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
- The Met is launching a major recruitment drive to increase representation from under-represented communities.
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