NCJ Number
55973
Journal
POLICE COLLEGE MAGAZINE Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: (AUTUMN 1978) Pages: 25-27,29-31,33-35
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
RECRUITMENT OF BLACK POLICE OFFICERS IS DISCUSSED AS A MEANS OF IMPROVING RELATIONS BETWEEN POLICE AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN GREAT BRITAIN.
Abstract
THE DISCUSSION ENCOMPASSES THE SOURCES OF RACIAL TENSION IN GREAT BRITAIN; REASONS FOR THE POOR RELATIONS BETWEEN BLACKS AND THE POLICE (E.G., THE INCREASINGLY CONFLICT-RIDDEN NATURE OF ALL CONTACTS BETWEEN POLICE AND THE PUBLIC, STEREOTYPES HELD BY POLICE OF BLACKS AND BY BLACKS OF POLICE, THE POLICE SERVICE'S MOVEMENT AWAY FROM ITS TRADITION OF PREVENTIVE POLICING); AND DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED IN ATTEMPTS TO RECRUIT MINORITY OFFICERS IN BOTH THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN. LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE IN POLICE-MINORITY RELATIONS ARE POINTED OUT, AS ARE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE RACE RELATIONS PROBLEMS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THOSE OF BRITAIN. RECRUITMENT OF A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF BLACK OFFICERS IS SAID TO BE AN URGENT PRIORITY FOR THE ENTIRE BRITISH POLICE SERVICE, NOT ONLY FOR FORCES WHOSE RELATIONS WITH THE BLACK COMMUNITY ARE A MAJOR PROBLEM. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT THE PRESENCE OF A TRULY MULTIRACIAL POLICE FORCE MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD, OR WILL AT LEAST CONTRIBUTE, TO PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE OF A MULTIRACIAL SOCIETY IN GREAT BRITAIN. RECRUITMENT AND ACCEPTANCE ARE SEEN AS INTERDEPENDENT GOALS FOR THE BRITISH POLICE SERVICE. AS POLICE STRIVE FOR COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE THROUGH EFFORTS TO REGAIN THE COMMUNITY'S TRUST AND RESPECT, RECRUITMENT WILL MEET WITH GREATER SUCCESS. AS RECRUITMENT MAKES THE POLICE SERVICE MORE TRULY REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL BRITISH SOCIETY, COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE WILL BE ENHANCED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (LKM)