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London: Senior police officials have admitted that at least some among them are guilty of "racist stereotyping" and "unwitting prejudice" in a document that will fuel the debate about alleged racism in forces.
In a confidential briefing paper, the Association of Chief Police Officers says that "ignorance of difference" and "thoughtlessness" are further problems which are blighting attitudes to the ethnic minorities.
It also concedes that there are "cultural barriers" within the police for non-white staff and that reforms are needed to ensure that forces across the country are "more tolerant" and value difference.
Inadvertent email
The document, which is marked "not to be published externally or to be given out to the media", also emphasises that progress is being made and that such problems are isolated.
The paper, which was sent out inadvertently by email, was drawn up in response to the programme and sets out the "lines to take" when trying to deal with the criticisms it contains.
It concedes that although recruitment of ethnic minority officers has improved significantly, "retention and progression" remains the "biggest challenge" faced by forces and warns that problems with "institutional racism" and "police culture" remain. "If the police service is considered 'institutionally racist' on the basis that some of our processes, behaviour or attitudes show signs of thoughtlessness, ignorance of difference, racist stereotyping or unwitting prejudice, then, yes, there are signs that this still is the case on some occasions," the document states.
Magistrate alleges bias
A London magistrate has accused court colleagues of being racist and more likely to send black people to jail. Iris Josiah, originally from Antigua, said racism was common on the bench and that some of her fellow JPs (Justices of the Peace) at Enfield magistrates' court tried to block her promotion.
Iris, 50, said they were also more likely to find black defendants guilty, irrespective of evidence, and refuse them bail. She claimed she was often ignored during deliberations on the fate of black defendants.
Iris, an English teacher, is seeking £75,000 (Dh483,975) in compensation for race discrimination and victimisation, which the Ministry of Justice denies. She became a JP at Enfield in 1995. After making a formal complaint about racism in 1999, she said court chiefs blocked her career path.
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