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| West Yorkshire Police diversity stats woeful, says deputy mayor | West Yorkshire Police diversity stats woeful, says deputy mayor |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Alison Lowe oversees crime and policing in West Yorkshire | Alison Lowe oversees crime and policing in West Yorkshire |
| Racial diversity within West Yorkshire Police has been described as "woeful" by the county's deputy mayor. | Racial diversity within West Yorkshire Police has been described as "woeful" by the county's deputy mayor. |
| Alison Lowe, who oversees policing, said just 7.4% of the force's 5,813 officers were from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background. | Alison Lowe, who oversees policing, said just 7.4% of the force's 5,813 officers were from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background. |
| However, she said the force was working to combat the disparity, with 17% of new recruits coming from "BAME communities". | |
| Det Supt Tanya Wilkins said the force is committed to addressing the issue. | |
| Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds about how the force could forge links with different communities to improve recruitment she said there was "lots of great work happening". | Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds about how the force could forge links with different communities to improve recruitment she said there was "lots of great work happening". |
| "But the pace of the work is not fast enough and the evidence of the success of that work is not there," she said. | "But the pace of the work is not fast enough and the evidence of the success of that work is not there," she said. |
| "Representation of police officers is a big piece of work that West Yorkshire have been undertaking for the last two years. | "Representation of police officers is a big piece of work that West Yorkshire have been undertaking for the last two years. |
| "We went from 6.3% of our police officers being from BAME backgrounds, which is woeful. We're at 7.4%, which is still woeful." | "We went from 6.3% of our police officers being from BAME backgrounds, which is woeful. We're at 7.4%, which is still woeful." |
| Despite efforts to increase diversity, some say the force faces an uphill battle. | Despite efforts to increase diversity, some say the force faces an uphill battle. |
| Natalie Pinnock-Hamilton, a member of the police advisory group in Huddersfield, said a lot of people had "lost confidence" in the police. | Natalie Pinnock-Hamilton, a member of the police advisory group in Huddersfield, said a lot of people had "lost confidence" in the police. |
| "I think a lot of them just do not trust the police. It's the same with having more black people in the police force, a lot of people won't join because they feel that they are traitors [that they are] letting the community down. Because, after the way we have been treated why would we want to go and work for the police?" | "I think a lot of them just do not trust the police. It's the same with having more black people in the police force, a lot of people won't join because they feel that they are traitors [that they are] letting the community down. Because, after the way we have been treated why would we want to go and work for the police?" |
| Ms Tanya Wilkins, who is the highest ranking black female officer in West Yorkshire Police, said there had been a "massive proactive effort" within policing to address issues around race, resulting in the Police Race Action Plan. | |
| Published earlier this year the plan aims to "improve outcomes for black people who work within or interact with policing". | Published earlier this year the plan aims to "improve outcomes for black people who work within or interact with policing". |
| Ms Wilkins said: "This is the first time we've ever had a plan dedicated to the black communities. | Ms Wilkins said: "This is the first time we've ever had a plan dedicated to the black communities. |
| "[It's about] improving representation, over-policing - at the moment there's some disproportionality around stop and search, use of force when you look at the data around black communities - so, it's about why is that the case and what can we do to make sure there isn't disproportionality with different communities?" | "[It's about] improving representation, over-policing - at the moment there's some disproportionality around stop and search, use of force when you look at the data around black communities - so, it's about why is that the case and what can we do to make sure there isn't disproportionality with different communities?" |
| However, she said the best way the force could better help communities was through more diverse recruitment. | However, she said the best way the force could better help communities was through more diverse recruitment. |
| "If you want policing to be better, if you want policing to represent you and your needs then come join us, that's the only way you can make a difference," she said. | "If you want policing to be better, if you want policing to represent you and your needs then come join us, that's the only way you can make a difference," she said. |
| Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. |