|
|
 |
| |
|
|
SEMPERscotland 0141 207 5809 (tel)
|
For
immediate release SEMPERscotland, the Scottish-wide organisation set up to ensure race equality within the Scottish Police Service, today gave its backing to the recommendations contained in the Independent Review of Policing and Race Relations in Scotland. Sgt. Robin Iffla, Chair of the organisation, said: “These sixty seven recommendations have highlighted the need for the status quo to change. Confidence in the professionalism and fairness of the Police Forces must be re-established in order to engage the minority ethnic communities at potentially one of the most divisive times in our country’s history. “While some action has already been taken to address the culture and attitude towards minority ethnic groups within the Service, more needs to be done. This Review should, therefore, be seen as a huge opportunity to confidently respond to the call for a further makeover to change the face of the Scottish Police Service”. “SEMPERscotland fully embrace the findings, particularly those on recruitment and selection. We would, however, have liked to see more on the important issue of retention and progression of minority ethnic staff as it is of considerable concern for much of our membership.” Sgt. Iffla noted that many of the conclusions drawn from this Review have long been recognised by SEMPERscotland as historical practices which impact, not only on good policing and race relations, but also on governance, accountability and professional standards. “Now is the time to move beyond the rhetoric and take immediate action to link service delivery and its impact on recruitment and progression”. He said his organisation is looking forward to working with the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), The Association of Chief Police Officer in Scotland (ACPOS) and the other police associations, in the systematic implementation of these recommendations. “SEMPERscotland is committed to promoting wider understanding of the needs of minority ethnic police employees and the community. And we will continue to work towards raising public confidence in the Scottish Police Service and ensuring our Police Service is as an employer who can be relied upon to deliver on diversity and social justice.” For further information please contact: Sandra
Deslandes-Clark Embargo: October 14, 2003 Launch of SEMPERscotland GUEST SPEAKER: Ms Cathy Jamieson, Justice Minister In the wake of the McPherson Report on the inquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence, with its criticism of a culture of “institutionalised racism”, police forces throughout the UK have been taking a long, hard look at their attitude towards ethnic minorities. It is comfortable to believe that Scotland is different, that Scotland is not affected by the difficulties that have appeared south of the Border, especially in London. But there is an awareness that while things are better here, they could be better still. And that the police forces must not only be seen to be impartial in the view of the public, they must also carry that impartiality through in the course of all of their internal operations. Equality must mean equality – all the way. Against that background, Supporting Ethnic Minority
Police Staff for Equality in Race – SEMPERscotland - was
born. SEMPERscotland has received wide-ranging support from, among others, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland; the Crown Office; the Commission for Racial Equality and the Scottish Executive. The First Minister, Jack McConnell, has 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”. Cathy Jamieson, the Minister for Justice, who will deliver the keynote address, will be joined on the day by the Rt. Hon. Colin Boyd QC, the Lord Advocate; Mick Conboy, Acting Head of the Commission for Racial Equality Scotland; Alexander Forrest, HM Assistant Inspector of Constabulary; Paddy Tomkins, Chief Constable Lothian & Borders Police and other members of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland. For further information please contact:
The Independent Police Complaints Commission has agreed that 12 police officers should be disciplined as a result of the investigation arising from The Secret Policeman television programme. Four trainers, including three who served at Bruche Training Centre, will receive Written Warnings. An additional seven constables and a sergeant will receive Formal Advice from a senior police officer. The IPCC has agreed that six of the officers must undergo diversity training and three of the trainers removed from such work. The investigation was set up after BBC TV screened the programme in October 2003 made by an undercover reporter. The subsequent investigation was carried out by Greater Manchester Police, under the supervision of, initially, the Police Complaints Authority and, after 1 April 2004, the IPCC. Commissioner Nicola Williams supervised the inquiry. Six police officers resigned from Greater Manchester Police, two from North Wales Police and two from Cheshire Constabulary. Nicola Williams said: "I believe that a very thorough inquiry was carried out by Greater Manchester Police and an independent review by Hampshire Constabulary agreed. The BBC were very helpful and supplied 180 hours of videos and audio tapes. One hundred statements were taken and over 1200 documents and exhibits obtained." Recommendations The IPCC has made recommendations for changes to training nationally. The Commission has written to Greater Manchester Police and also Centrex, the national police-training organisation, seeking changes to training and recruitment procedures. The IPCC recommendations are: • That a consultation process between the Home Office and police staff associations should be set up to consider improving the speed of disciplinary procedures in cases of gross misconduct thereby providing the means of instantly dismissing officers in cases where there is compelling evidence. • That a similar consultation process regarding trainee police officers should be undertaken with a view to developing national regulations for police trainees similar to those in place in Northern Ireland where officers only attest and hold the office of constable after a prescribed period of training. • That a national review be undertaken of the recruitment process to develop methods of identifying personality traits that are unacceptable in police officers. The feasibility of having an independent person on every recruiting panel for trainers must be considered. • Centrex should undertake a national review of the delivery of race and diversity training and develop a method of evaluating the effectiveness of such training once it has been delivered. Nicola Williams added: "The IPCC is anxious that progress should be made on these proposals with a review of progress in September. It is vital that the police service can permanently improve recruit training and ensure that each and every police officer supports the need to treat everybody fairly regardless of their race, religion or colour." The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is the body with overall responsibility for the new police complaints system in England and Wales. It has the task of increasing public confidence in the system and aims to make complaints investigations more open, timely, proportionate and fair. The 17 IPCC Commissioners guarantee the independence of the IPCC and by law can never have served as police officers. Since its launch in April 2004 the IPCC has used its powers to carry out 26 independent and 103 managed investigations into the most serious complaints against the police. It has also set new standards for police forces to improve the way the public's complaints are handled, and upheld 21% of appeals by the public about the way their complaint was dealt with by the local force. The IPCC is committed to getting closer to the communities it serves. It has regional offices in Cardiff, Leicestershire, London and Manchester plus a sub office in Wakefield. Commissioners are regionally based and supported by 77 independent investigators, as well as case workers and specialist support staff. The IPCC web site is constantly updated at www.ipcc.gov.uk or members of the public can contact the IPCC on 08453 002 002. Richard
M Offer www.ipcc.gov.uk |
|
||
