Police efforts to address racism have been described as having made limited progress, with a recent report warning of slow and inconsistent advancements since the launch of the Police Race Action Plan (PRAP) following George Floyd’s murder in 2020. The Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board (ISOB) overseeing the PRAP highlighted that progress has been overly reliant on individual goodwill rather than comprehensive commitment from police leadership. Only six out of the 44 forces covered by the PRAP have publicly acknowledged institutional racism, according to the ISOB report.
The report also drew parallels between the current situation and the aftermath of the Macpherson inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993, emphasizing the need for more substantial and systemic changes within policing. Statistics from 2024 revealed significant disparities, with Black men being 2.4 times more likely to be arrested than white men and Black individuals being 3.7 times more likely to be stopped and searched compared to their white counterparts.
Chairwoman of the ISOB, Abimbola Johnson, expressed disappointment in the slow and uneven progress, urging for structural accountability for Black communities. Chief Constable Sarah Crew of Avon and Somerset Police stressed the importance of moving beyond mere acknowledgment of institutional racism towards tangible actions to rebuild trust within these communities.
While acknowledging some progress made under the PRAP, Chief Constable Gavin Stephens of the National Police Chiefs’ Council echoed the need for further work to address deep-rooted cultural issues. He emphasized the importance of continued commitment to anti-racism efforts within policing to build trust and confidence among all stakeholders.
The ISOB report called for the establishment of independent scrutiny, national data standards, and the integration of race equity within inspection and performance frameworks by the Home Office. As the standalone Police Race Action Plan concludes, the focus shifts towards embedding accountability within core systems, including incorporating race metrics in inspection frameworks and direct oversight by the Home Office.
