About SEMPERscotland

Background

On the heels of the McPherson Report on the inquiry into the death of black teenager, Stephen Lawrence, with its criticism of a culture of “institutionalised racism”, police forces throughout the UK had a long, hard look at their attitude towards the minority ethnic population.

In order to get an insight into reported racially discriminatory practices in the internal operations of the Scottish Police Service, the Scottish Executive Central Research Unit commissioned the prominent Equal Opportunity Advisor, Daniel Onifade, to conduct a comprehensive in-house research.

In May 2002, Mr. Onifade presented his report ‘The Experience of Black/Minority Ethnic Police Officers, Support Staff, Special Constables and Resigners in Scotland’, which found that an overwhelming number of the minority ethnic police staff interviewed felt they have been the victims of varying forms of racism and inequitable practices within the Service.

Armed with those findings, coupled with Her Majesty’s Chief Inspectorate of Constabulary’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ report into racism in the Scottish Police Service, all minority ethnic staff were invited to attend a seminar at Dunblane to discuss the way forward. From this assembly, it was clear that more needed to be done to directly address a number of issues and, more importantly, support and advice minority ethnic employees.

Against that background, Supporting Ethnic Minority Police staff for Equality in Race, SEMPERscotland, was formed.

It was publicly inaugurated on October 14, 2003 by Justice Minister, Cathy Jamieson, at Tulliallan Castle. At the launch it received wide-ranging support from, among others, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, the Lord Advocate, the Commission for Racial Equality and the Scottish Executive. The First Minister, Jack McConnell, welcomed the initiative and pledged his “support for the aims of SEMPERscotland as part of the wider recognition by the Police Service of the need to address the concerns of minority groups”.

The organisation is run by an Executive Committee made up of members of staff from various ranks and levels within the Service, who are committed to promoting wider understanding of the needs of minority ethnic employees and their contribution to the overall success of the Scottish Police Service.

Full membership to this “rainbow” organisation is open to all minority ethnic employees of the Scottish Police Service. Associate membership is open to individuals, companies and other corporate bodies outwith the Scottish Police Service, regardless of racial background, who support the aims of SEMPERscotland.

SEMPERscotland is a registered charity (No. SC 034862) and a company limited by guarantee (No. 257304) with offices located at Bishopbriggs Police Office, 113 Kirkintilloch Road, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, G64 2AA.

The organisation operates within the Not-for-profit Sector and falls under the jurisdiction of the Scottish Charities Commission and Company House.

Tribute

Alasdair Ferry
Diversity Trainer, Fife Constabulary
Born: November 19, 1962
Died: October 8, 2003

Alasdair Ferry was the driving force behind SEMPERscotland and a prominent figure in the pursuit of equality of opportunity within the Scottish Police Service and the wider criminal justice system. His tragic death in a road accident came just a week before the official launch of SEMPERscotland, the support network for minority ethnic staff in the Scottish Police Service, which Alasdair was involved in setting up.

As Chairperson of SEMPERscotland he was instrumental in winning support for the aims and objectives of SEMPERscotland from among others, the Scottish Executive, the Crown Office and the Commission for Racial Equality Scotland.

Alasdair joined the police service in 1982 and served in Dunfermline, Dalgety Bay and FHQ, Glenrothes, as a Community Constable, Community Safety Officer and Diversity Trainer. Early in 2003 he was seconded to the Crown Office and Procurators Fiscal Service to set up their Diversity Training Programme. He had been involved in race equality issues since 1995, and as a minority ethnic officer had cultivated links with minority ethnic communities since his appointment. Other involvements included serving as vice-chair of the Scottish Police Diversity Trainers' Network and a director of the nascent Scottish Oriental Arts Partnership.

He was born in Malaysia to Italian-Scots and Chinese parents and grew up in Thailand and India, where he spent 6 years at boarding school. He returned to Scotland in 1981 and carried out a year's voluntary teaching in India in 1988-9. His interests included reading, painting & drawing, writing & calligraphy, public speaking, cycling, badminton, collecting antique fountain pens and cooking.

Alasdair was a popular police officer who was well respected not only by his colleagues, but also by members of the community at large, where his contribution to the promotion of racial harmony was widely recognised.
He will be sorely missed.

He is survived by his children, Gregor, Amy, Hope and Daniel.