Report by West Yorkshire Black Police Association (WYBPA) 9th February 2010 found there were still concerns

by personnel from BME backgrounds who serve within the West Yorkshire Police around the area of disproportionality in discipline, unsatisfactory performance, investigation and sanctions. The report also highlighted that West Yorkshire Police need to listen to its BME staff and amend their working practices if they are to retain their BME staff and increase the BME workforce to represent the community it serves. WYBPA conducted a survey of those Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) police officers and staff from West Yorkshire Police that attended the meeting on 9th February 2010 and found that;

80% felt that the discipline investigation and unsatisfactory performance was not fair, transparent and proportionate. 70% did not feel the outcome of the procedure was proportionate in comparison to non BME colleagues. 71% had experienced discrimination, bullying, harassment or unfair treatment at work.

A survey by the West Yorkshire Police Authority (WYPA) in January 2011 found: Responses tended to be more negative from BME than white respondents When asked how respondents felt they were treated throughout the process, the majority responded negatively, stating they were treated unfairly, like a criminal, they were not kept informed or listened to, and their treatment was disproportionate. Professional Standards Department did not have any BME members of staff

Significantly more white than BME respondents were confident that complaints or allegations of misconduct would be dealt with in a way that is fair, appropriate and clear.

West Yorkshire figures:

West Yorkshire has the 4th highest hate crime figures in the country West Yorkshire has the 4th highest race hate crime figures nationally West Yorkshire has the highest disability hate crime figures in the country Disability Hate Crime has increased by 488% in West Yorkshire in the last 3 years. That is the highest since records began. West Yorkshire Police is among the top five worst forces in the country for not recording crimes In 2011 there were 1514 racial offences recorded by West Yorkshire Police but only 625 were detected less than half arrest, detection and prosecution rate. Low arrest, detection and prosecution rates for racially aggravated crimes. Black people are almost 7 times more likely to be stop and searched under s.23 than white people in West Yorkshire. Asian people are almost 4 times more likely to be stop and searched under s.23 than white people in West Yorkshire. In 2009 more Asian police officers were suspended from West Yorkshire Police despite the complaints against white officers being significantly higher. In 2009 figures showed that there had been an increase of 965% in racially and religiously motivated crimes in West Yorkshire over the last 10 years which was 12 times faster than other parts of the country. In the last two years Officers in West Yorkshire Police missed 5,237 working days due to sickness.

National Figures:
New figures reveal that police forces in England and Wales receive 1,000 racism complaints every year Just 2 officers out of 2,270 accused of racist behaviour have been dismissed in the last seven years. In the decade since the damning Macpherson Report, 120 Metropolitan Police officers have been found guilty of racist behaviour, but just one has been dismissed. Racism complaints against police officers have more than doubled in the past decade Allegations of racism against the police up by 32% in four years In London alone, officers faced 1,339 allegations of racist behaviour over the past three years, with just 14 of the cases being upheld. Black people are 30 times more likely than white people to be stopped and searched by police in England and Wales, according to new analysis which reveals that "racial profiling" has increased over the past year. In 2010-11, 165 BME police officers were recruited, but 204 left the service. Police officers from black and minority ethnic groups are more likely to have been dismissed or required to resign compared with their white counterparts At the end of 2008, almost half of the 43 forces in England and Wales had not reached the employment target for black and minority ethnic officers set by home secretary Jack Straw almost 10 years earlier. Analysis shows during the past 12 months a black person was 29.7 times more likely to be stopped and searched than a white person. That figure was 26.6 the previous year. In 2009, black people were 10.7 times more likely to be stopped than whites. The figures refer to the use of section 60, the contentious police power that allows officers to stop and search people without reasonable suspicion. Ten years ago you were 5 to 6 times more likely to be stop and searched by police if you were black than white. Now the overall rate is about 7 times more likely. The changing demographic profile of the population inside youth jails in England and Wales also shows an increasing proportion of young Muslims, up from 13% last year to 16%. In 2009 a report published found that racism was still rife in the police. Young black men now account for nearly 40% of the population of youth jails in England and Wales Between 2007 and 2011 there was a 37% reduction in white children in custody, compared with a 16% reduction in black and ethnic minority children BME deaths accounted for 17% of police-related fatalities in 2009, but these ethnic groups made up just 12% of the UK population. Over the period 2003 to 2011, a total of 163 young people aged 18 to 24 died in prison.38 were from black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds Black, Asian and minority ethnic children (BAME) are overrepresented amongst the child custodial population, accounting for more than one in four children in custody yet only 15% of the general 10-17 population. Whilst only 3% of children aged 10-17 in the general population are black, the proportion for black children in custody is 14%. Statistics also show that black, Asian and minority ethnic children (BAME) in prison are more likely to be restrained than white children. In 2010/11, for example, BAME

children accounted for less than a third of the average child custodial population, yet 39% of monthly incidents of restraint.

Cases in which West Yorkshire Police integrity has been called into question over the last few years from a number of quarters:

Supergrass given drugs by West Yorkshire Police

In 2011 the Supreme Court found that police officers from West Yorkshire Police had taken a murder trial witness to a brothel and allowed him to use drugs to ensure he co-operated. One of the Supreme Court judges, Lord Brown said a number of officers, including "several of high rank" took part in a "prolonged, persistent and pervasive conspiracy to pervert the course of justice". http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-14240774

West Yorkshire Police lose copyright case approx 180,000 legal costs
In 2011, Justice Arnold said specialist firm Forensic Telecommunications Services (FTS) - which extracts data from mobile phones - had succeeded in abreach of confidence claim against West Yorkshire Police. "I cannot part from this case without expressing my concern that it should have come this far. I fear that the costs will have been out of all proportion to what is at stake. That is regrettable in any litigation, but particularly so where public money is involved." http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/copyright-forensic-telecommunications.html

Good Samaritan assaulted by Police

In 2011 West Yorkshire Police finally apologized for its officers unlawfully assaulting and arresting a good Samaritan. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bradford-west-yorkshire-12763323

West Yorkshire Police lose landmark High Court case

In 2012, West Yorkshire Police lost a landmark civil case for wrongly charging Leeds United Football Club for policing costs outside the football grounds. Following the court judgment it faces a 1million bill. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jul/24/leeds-united-win-police-costs

Former West Yorkshire Police Detectives Child Porn shame

In 2012 a former detective who made 563 indecent images of children has walked free from court. Michael Vause, 59, was working for West Yorkshire Police Forces professional standards department, based at police headquarters, on Laburnum Road, at the time of his arrest. Mr. Vause had also worked in the Anti-Corruption Unit of West Yorkshire Police PSD. http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/local/more-wakefield-news/formerwest-yorkshire-police-detective-s-child-porn-shame-1-4712857

West Yorkshire Police accused of racism

In 2009 West Yorkshire Police was accused of disproportionately treating its BME police officers. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-andorder/5373958/West-Yorkshire-Police-accused-of-racism.html

Keighley Pc faces racism probe after arresting assault victims dad

In 2012 a West Yorkshire Police officer was accused of racism http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/at-a-glance/main-section/keighley-pcfaces-racism-probe-after-arresting-assault-victim-s-dad-1-4540953

Worker for West Yorkshire Police was racist In 2010 a former employee of West Yorkshire Police was branded a racist by the CPS http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/topstories/worker-for-west-yorkshire-police-was-racist-cps-1-2241192

Complaints against West Yorkshire Police rise 10%

Between 2008-09 complaints against West Yorkshire Police rose by 10% http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshirenews/2009/09/24/complaints-against-west-yorkshire-police-rise-1086081-24767822/

West Yorkshire Police officer stole 4,000 from raids on brothels In 2012 a police officer from West Yorkshire Police stole 4,000 from brothels http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2150032/West-Yorkshire-PoliceLonely-policeman-stole-4-000-raids-brothels-lap-dancing-clubs-usedwork-contact-women.html

Police officer from West Yorkshire Police charged with stealing drugs In 2012 a police officer was charged with stealing drugs to the value of 250,000 from West Yorkshire Police and plotting to sell them. http://dailymirror.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

In some forces in the UK, up to one in four crimes is not being investigated properly because officers mistakenly choose to drop the inquiry. There were 43,748 hate crimes recorded by the police in 2011-12 in England and Wales but this is only the tip of the iceberg. According to the British Crime Survey 260,000 people were victims of a hate crime, 0.5% of the adult population, with a third experiencing repeat victimisation twice and 18% three or more times in the same year. The most commonly perceived motivation of Hate Crime was the victims race (estimated at 136,000 incidents per year).

Racism in the Police: Review of West Yorkshire Police FOI

The below information has been taken from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request processed by West Yorkshire Police. The data shows a disturbing reality. It appears that not only does racism in the police service continue to exist but from the evidence provided by West Yorkshire Police (FOI Reference No: FOI-20112/256335) very little action is taken against those found

guilty of racist behaviour or conduct. Below is a list of several cases published by West Yorkshire Police which clearly show that despite officers being found guilty of racist conduct they were only given written warnings or words of advice. Clearly police officers and staff are entrusted with extraordinary powers and responsibilities designed to protect society which therefore makes any racist conduct by them particularly aggravated and concerning. Please see the table below which details the number of racial behaviour related to disciplinary investigations made into police staff and officers in each of the last 5 financial years.

Year 2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11

Police Officers 21 41 23 29 26

Staff 1 3 1 3 0

Number of Officers Staff 8 Constable 116 Sergeant 9 Inspector 2 Special Constable 1 Rank of Officers
Examples of real cases of racism 2006/7 A staff member was arrested for racially aggravated assault in a road traffic incident. It was alleged that the staff member used a racial swear word. The complaint was made by a member of public. The outcome of the investigation was that there was no case for the staff member to answer. 2007/8 Case 1 A staff member was alleged to have sent and received inappropriate and racist text messages on a police owned mobile phone. The complaint was made by a colleague. The outcome of the investigation was that a written warning was given to the staff member.

Case 2 A staff member was alleged to have used inappropriate language, which was considered to have been racist. The complaint was made by a colleague. The outcome of the investigation was that a final written warning was given to the staff member. 2008/9 A staff member was alleged to have made a racist comment towards a colleague. The complaint was made by a colleague. The outcome of the investigation was that informal advice was given to the staff member. 2009/10 Case 1 and Case 2 A staff member was alleged to have bullied and harassed colleagues; this included using racist comments. The staff member was alleged to have used a racial swear word. Two separate complaints were made by colleagues. The outcome of the investigation into the two complaints was that a verbal warning was given to the staff member. Case 3 A staff member was alleged to have used inappropriate language and behaviour, some of which was racist in nature. The staff member was alleged to have used a racial swear word. A complaint was made by a colleague. The outcome of the investigation was that a final written warning was given to the staff member. The number of racial offences detected by disposal in 2011 by West Yorkshire Police.

Year 2011

Recorded Crime 1514

Charge 521

Caution 97

PND 6

TIC 1

Total Detections 625

The above table shows less than a 50% detection rate for racial offences. Clearly if racism is allowed to go unchallenged within the ranks or service then detection rate for racial offences will continue to be low. There needs to be a meaningful change in policy and attitudes. JUST calls for West Yorkshire Police and WYP Authority to undertake an urgent review. The data obtained by JUST West Yorkshire following a freedom of information request, highlights a disturbing trend in the West Yorkshire region less than 50% of the perpetrators committing racially and religiously aggravated offences are arrested. This means that over 50% of racially and religiously aggravated crimes are going undetected or unprosecuted and in most cases suspects are not even arrested.

Year 2009/2010 2010/2011 2011/2012

Racially/Religiously Aggravated Crime 2,145 2,080 1,851

Year 2010 2011

Arrests for a racially/religiously aggravated offence 1,036 805

Racially motivated crimes in West Yorkshire rise 965% From Bradford Telegraph and Argus, 29.06.09
The number of racially or religiously-motivated crimes being reported to West Yorkshire Police has risen 12 times faster than in other parts of the country. Government figures show 2,493 crimes were reported in 2007/08 across the county, compared with 234 in 1999/2000 - a rise of 965 per cent. Nationally there has been a 82 per cent increase in that period from 21,750 to 39,643.

52% of all victims were of Asian origin, 26% were White and 14% were Black African or Black Caribbean, and 8% were from other ethnic groups. In West Yorkshire, 88.6% of the population are white, 8.7% are Asian, 1% are black, and 1.7% are other ethnic backgrounds. Almost a third of black and Asian people fear that they could be subjected to police harassment if they made a complaint against the police, according to a study for the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Fewer than one in five white people think that they might be similarly singled out.

Complaints and Suspensions 01/04/08 31/03/2009

Number of Complaints from Asian/Asian-British Pakistanis to WYP doubled in 2008/09

West Yorkshire Police accused of Racism - The Sunday Telegraph 23.05.09 Force 'stereotyping ethnic officers' - T&A Newspaper - 29.05.2009 New Report says Racism still rife in the Police - The Observer 15.02.09

Allegations of racism against the police up by 32% in four years

10 January 2012 Complaints of racism against the police have risen by almost a third in four years, a Mirror investigation has found. Almost three allegations are being lodged every day and the total number of grievances has jumped from 687 in 2007 to 904 in 2010. In Norfolk an officer is being investigated after allegedly attending a domestic incident and saying: I deal with black c**** like you all the time, so shut the f*** up. An officer from the same force had a case dealt with locally after he was accused of calling a mother f****** P*** and f****** Indian in front of her children. He was also accused of saying: Youre a f****** foreigner, taking over the place. In Staffordshire, a PC was accused of telling a motorist with no MoT Dont give me any of your P*** tricks. This was another incident that was dealt with locally. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/allegations-of-racism-against-the-police-up-157928

Stop and search 'racial profiling' by police on the increase, claims study
Saturday 14 January 2012 Analysis shows that black people are now 30 times more likely to be stopped by the police than white people
http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/jan/14/stop-search-racial-profiling-police

Out of 120 police officers found guilty of racism... just one is sacked
6 April 2012

In the decade since the damning Macpherson Report, 120 Metropolitan Police officers have been found guilty of racist behaviour, but just one has been dismissed, figures reveal. The racism took place between 1999 and 2011 the decade after the Macpherson Report branded the Met institutionally racist. One Staffordshire PC was sacked after calling another officers partner a Paki and then making comments about food in a fake foreign accent. In Bedfordshire, one officer was investigated after allegedly saying: If you were being raped by a black man, I wouldnt help you. Another branded a lawyer a stupid ******g Asian defence lawyer and one remarked that an Asian family are probably terrorists.

A Bedfordshire Police spokesman admitted that none of the officers was sacked but said the incidents were a matter of extreme regret.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2126303/Out-120-police-officers-guiltyracism--just-sacked.html

Black police reporting racism 'labelled troublemakers'

5 June 2012

In 2010-11, 165 BME officers were recruited, but 204 left the service.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18239960

Police up to 28 times more likely to stop and search black people study
Tuesday 12 June 2012

Human rights watchdog warns of 'racial profiling' as data reveals under 3% of stop and searches leads to an arrest Police forces are up to 28 times more likely to use stop-and-search powers against black people than white people and may be breaking the law, new research from the official human rights body reveals.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jun/12/police-stop-and-search-black-people

Police inspector suspended over racist allegations

6th June 2012 http://www.timesseries.co.uk/news/9746366.Police_inspector_suspended_over_racist_allegations

New figures reveal that police forces in England and Wales receive 1,000 racism complaints every year
6th April 2012 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2126311/Scotland-Yards-racism-crisisdeepens-vile-abuse-Asian-shop-manager-revealed.html#ixzz1rMgqyVlC

Police 'in denial' over rise in racism complaints

Allegations have doubled in 10 years

6th May 2012

Racism complaints against British police officers have more than doubled in the past decade, despite efforts to improve relations with ethnic minorities in the wake of the Stephen Lawrence scandal.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/police-in-denial-over-rise-in-racism-complaints7717639.html

Further claims of racism at Met as officer faces sack for racially aggravated abuse
7 April 2012

Just two officers out of 2,270 accused of racist behaviour have been dismissed in the last seven years http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9191499/Furt her-claims-of-racism-at-Met-as-officer-faces-sack-for-raciallyaggravated-abuse.html Police are 37 times more likely to stop and search a black person than a white person, latest research has shown.
12 June 2012 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2158004/Police-37-times-likely-stopsearch-black-people.html

New report says racism still rife in police force

15 February 2009 Stop-and-search powers directed more than ever against black Britons

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/feb/15/police-racism

Black fireman says he was abused and Tasered by Met

12 September 2012 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/sep/12/met-police-officer-rape-cases