This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Review of policing and race relations
15/07/2005
An independent review into policing and race relations
in Scotland was published today.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson welcomed the review and
said:
"Racism in the police service - as in any walk of life
in Scotland - cannot be tolerated. It's also important the
forces are representative of the communities which they
service. I therefore welcome this report and its findings.
It shows that our police forces are meeting their legal
obligations towards race relations and have a clear
commitment towards maximising public confidence and
enhancing community relations.
"Clearly, however, the report also shows that further
progress is required in some areas such as recruitment from
ethnic minority communities and inconsistencies between
force, for example in relation to training. I will be
encouraging the police service to use this research to
further improve its practices for tackling discrimination
and promoting good race relations in Scotland, and to help
inform any training and organisational change.
"The report also raises wider issues including the
importance of tackling racism in schools. This is something
which we are already working closely with schools to
address given their key role in helping prepare young
people to live in a society which has many cultures and is
inclusive.
"We have funded the Centre for Education for Racial
Equality in Scotland to develop a web-based anti-racist
toolkit for teachers and schools to help them find out more
about race equality and how to implement good practice in
race-related matters. We have also initiated a project
which will assist schools in identifying and addressing
racist incidents.
"That work - together with the Commission for Racial
Equality's (CRE) recommendations - will help support our
on-going efforts to tackle racism and promote cultural
diversity in Scotland through our One Scotland Many
Cultures campaign."
Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) Chair Trevor
Philips, who was in Scotland to respond to the findings,
said:
"The picture in Scotland is very different from that in
England and Wales where we discovered 'ice at the heart' of
the police service. Some of what is happening in Scotland
will provide practical leadership for the rest of Great
Britain. Scotland's police forces should be commended for
the progress they are making on race equality.
"However, now is not the time to lapse into complacency.
As the Review makes clear there's still some way to go
before policies and strategies deliver race equality on the
ground. Police forces must remember that it only takes one
negative experience with one individual member of staff to
shape a person's perception of the whole service."