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ACPO response to article in the Independent on Sunday
ACPO lead for equality, diversity and human rights responds to an article about racism complaints against police officers
In response to an article in the Independent on Sunday, ACPO lead for equality, diversity and human rights, Chief Constable Alf Hitchcock, said:
“Police officers have thousands of interactions with members of the public each day and most end well. Since the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report, both the satisfaction with the police among black and minority ethnic communities, and their willingness to come forward and complain when things go wrong has risen.
“When contact doesn’t end well, complaints are a vital part of understanding what went wrong and how it can be put right. Each and every case is different but where prejudice and gross misconduct occurs, there is a firm desire throughout policing, to challenge and tackle it robustly. In other cases, where the grievance concerns an officer’s performance rather than being a matter of misconduct, complaints can be upheld and local resolutions put in place.
"Much has changed in the police service over the last ten years and while there is still some way to go, the service has shown that it is willing to listen and learn from past events. Every complaint the service receives is recorded and investigated and I encourage people to continue to come forward.”
For more information contact
The ACPO Press Office can be contacted via 020 7084 8946/47/48 (office hours) or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is an independent, professionally led strategic body. In the public interest and, in equal and active partnership with Government and partner agencies, ACPO leads and co-ordinates the direction and development of the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In times of national need ACPO, on behalf of all chief officers, co-ordinates the strategic policing response.
ACPO’s 311 members consist of 223 chief police officers from the home forces of assistant chief constable rank (commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, plus 60 senior police staff members from the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Non home forces such as British Transport Police have 25 chief police officer members and there are three members from the Service Police.