Career Progression of Ethnic Minority Police Officers

• NCJ Number: 178723
• Author(s): Nick Bland; Gary Mundy; Jacqueline Russell; Rachel Tuffin
• Editor(s): Barry Webb
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 70 pages
• Sale Source: Great Britain Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: Police Research Series Paper 107

Annotation

Minority and white police officers in eight police agencies in England and Wales were compared with respect to their recruitment, retention, and career development to determine the nature of the differences and the factors that directly and indirectly influence the careers of minority police.

Abstract

The research took place between August 1998 and January 1999. It examined the career profiles of white and ethnic minority officers in both promoted ranks and specialist departments. Gaps in personnel and career records limited the ability of the researchers to make definitive conclusions. In any case, the number of ethnic minority applicants was consistently lower than expected from their proportion of the population. Minority applicants were less likely than white applicants to be offered an interview, receive a formal offer of employment, and be appointed provisionally. In addition, retention figures deteriorated for minority police and improved for white officers over the last 4 years. Moreover, minority officers' progression through the promotion process was slower on average than that of their white colleagues. Differences were also apparent among officers from different minority groups. Ethnic minority officers generally believed that they experienced more problems than white officers as a result of other officers' reactions to their ethnicity. However, they were often unable to identify the extent to which this factor may have directly or indirectly influenced their career. White and ethnic minority officers were similar in length of service, age, and gender, but some differences in officers' academic achievement were apparent. Findings indicated that institutional racism has had a part in defining the careers of ethnic minority officers and suggested the need for several actions, as well as further research. Tables, figures, notes, appended information on specialist categories, list of other publications from the same organization, and 22 references