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Vow for more black and Asian police officers by crime chief

A crime chief has pledged to take on more black and Asian officers - just months after damning figures showed only one police recruit in 253 in the West Midlands is black.

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West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said he wants the force to look more like the the region it serves.

He made the commitment, echoed by Assistant PCC Ashley Bertie, at a Black and Asian Police Association student officer development event at the force's training base in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

The West Midlands is made up of almost three million people, around a third of whom are from black and minority ethnic backgrounds but only 13 per cent of police officers are black or Asian, the meeting heard.

Mr Jamieson said: "I am absolutely determined to create a police force in the West Midlands that truly represents the people it serves.

"The West Midlands is one of the most diverse areas in the country and I have been elected to serve all of those communities and ensure people of all ages, ethnicities and faiths are represented in public life.

"West Midlands Police will take positive action to make sure our black and minority ethnic communities are represented in our new recruits – while ensuring everyone who is appointed meets the highest standards.

"And this is not only about recruitment – but also retention and promotion. I am determined to see the progression of black and minority ethnic officers to the very top of our force."

West Midlands Police is in the process of recruiting 450 new officers, who will be in place by April. The commissioner has also pledged to recruit an extra 1,000 on top of that.

Assistant PCC Ashley Bertie at the event

Mr Bertie added: "We want to ensure the force better reflects the varied communities it serves - not as an end in itself but as a way to make policing more effective.

"The PCC has long advocated that West Midlands Police should look like the people it serves. In the PCC office, 30 per cent of staff are from black and minority ethnic backgrounds – however we will not rest on our laurels and there is more work to be done."

In January, Mr Jamieson told in-coming Chief Constable David Thompson that the force needed to 'up its game' in the area of minority recruitment, describing progress as moving at 'a glacial pace.'

Of the 253 recruits in the previous two years, 214 had been white, 20 Asian, 13 mixed race, five not stated, and just one was black. Mr Thompson said the figures were 'of concern.'

This week's student officer development event aimed to support, encourage and help the progression of the next generation of West Midlands Police.

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