Force denies ‘Positive Action’ recruitment is a block on white British applicants
West Yorkshire Police has denied that is blocking or even rejecting white British applicants in its recruitment process.
It comes after an article in The Telegraph suggested the force’s approach to ‘Positive Action’ recruitment had “temporarily blocked applications from white British candidates in an attempt to boost diversity”, with “under-represented groups able to lodge their applications early”.
Positive Action allows people from under-represented groups to submit an application which is held on file until a recruitment window is opened, but the force stressed “no interviews are held until the window is officially opened to all candidates”.
West Yorkshire Police said it was “committed to improving equality, diversity, and inclusion within the organisation, and strive to be more representative of the communities we serve”.
In a statement, the force said: “Our Diversity, Equality and Inclusion team supports and consults with those with different protected characteristics such as sex, disability, sexual orientation, and race to ensure their views can influence and improve the service the force delivers.
“They also work to improve the wellbeing of everybody in the organisation and inclusivity overall.
“The most recent census found that 23 per cent of people in West Yorkshire identified as being from an ethnic minority background. Our current police officer representation from ethnic minority backgrounds is around nine per cent.
“To address this under-representation, we use Positive Action under the Equality Act 2010. Our use of this was recently reviewed by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services in an Activism and Impartiality inspection and no issues were identified.
“Positive Action allows people from under-represented groups who express an interest in joining the force to complete an application, which is then held on file until a recruitment window is opened. No interviews are held until the window is officially opened to all candidates.
“Enabling people from under-represented groups to apply early does not give them an advantage in the application process, it simply provides us with more opportunity to attract talent from this pool of applicants.”
Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said the claims were “completely baseless”.
“It’s absolutely right that West Yorkshire Police reflects the community it serves,” said Ms Brabin.
“That is how it builds trust, understands communities, and prevents crime.
“These claims are completely baseless. West Yorkshire Police doesn’t discriminate in its recruitment process, and we fully support its efforts to diversify the force.”
The Home Secretary has made it clear that recruitment decisions are an operational and independent matter for individual forces.
There are no provisions for positive discrimination in law.
The Equality Act in 2010 has positive action provisions available to enable employers to address identified under-representation of protected groups in the workplace.
West Yorkshire Police said it has contacted media outlets to advise of the “inaccuracies” within their reports and has “respectfully asked for these to be amended as soon as possible”.