White British candidates have been temporarily blocked from applying for a job at one of the UK’s biggest police forces in its latest attempt to boost diversity.
West Yorkshire Police (WYP) is preventing the budding PCs from submitting their application to join the police constable entry programme.
‘Under-represented’ groups are currently permitted to lodge their applications early, while applications from white Brits are ‘hidden’, former officers say.
Concerns have been raised about the potential unfair treatment of candidates, with suggestions of unlawful positive discrimination.
WYP has stated the policies are in place to make sure ‘diverse communities’ are represented by the officers serving them, The Telegraph reports.
However, former members of the force have accused it of effectively running a ‘hidden’ recruitment policy that targets certain groups.
A whistleblower who was heavily involved in sifting job applications for recruits claimed he raised concerns over the policy but was warned not to interfere.
He also said black and far east Asian candidates were considered among the particularly under-represented and given a ‘gold’ ranking, whereas those of south-east Asian origin made it to the silver tier.
West Yorkshire Police (WYP) is temporarily preventing the entrants from the chance to join its police constable entry programme. Pictured: WYP divisional headquarters
A report to senior officers said: ‘This feeds into a general theme where the pipeline for anyone white British is strangled, whilst anyone not white British is ushered through onto the next available stage’ (file image)
Meanwhile, ‘white others’ – including candidates from Irish and eastern European backgrounds – were bronze.
A report to senior officers, seen by the Telegraph, said: ‘This feeds into a general theme where the pipeline for anyone white British is strangled, whilst anyone not white British is ushered through onto the next available stage.’
Earlier this year, a separate report suggested WYP – the fourth largest force in the country – spends more money on DEI than any other force, coming in at 19 diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) staff at a cost of £1million a year.
Recruits are required to go through a long process that includes an online assessment, an interview and physical tests. New constables – either in uniform or as plain-clothes detectives – receive a starting salary of just under £30,000.
WYP’s website states: ‘We are currently accepting applications for the two police constable entry programmes (uniform and detective) from people from our under-represented groups… If you are not from one of these groups, please keep checking this page for future recruitment opportunities.’
The force says online applications from ethnic minority backgrounds are ‘processed through to interview stage, but then held until recruitment is opened for everyone’.
It adds: ‘Enabling people from an ethnic minority background to apply early does not give them an advantage in the application process, it simply provides us with more opportunity to attract talent from a pool of applicants who reflect the diverse communities we serve.’
According to a document with details of the policy, minority candidates were given months to register an interest and fill out applications while some white candidates were given as little as 48 hours.
A WYP spokesman said: ‘The most recent census found that 23 per cent of people in West Yorkshire identified as being from an ethnic minority background’ Pictured: Halifax, West Yorkshire
The claims were made last year by the whistleblower, who has since left WYP, in a report circulated to senior members of the force.
WYP insists the preferable treatment given to ethnic minority candidates is conducted in-line with equality laws.
However, a senior employment lawyer, who did not wish to be named, has pointed out the recruitment policy strays into positive discrimination – a policy practiced in the US but prohibited in the UK.
Minority candidates who express interest in a job via email are assigned police officers from the force’s Positive Action Team (PAT), who mentor them through recruitment, which is legal.
However, the whistleblower’s report claims not a single ethnic minority applicant failed the process, with PAT officers also conducting the interviews.
Officers within the force claimed entry level vacancies were marked internally with an H, meaning Hidden, on the computer system and so would open up to white British candidates at a much later stage.
The former officer also reported candidates were greeted with ‘unprofessional hand clasps and hugs’ being told ‘don’t worry, you’ve already passed and this is just a formality’.
The whistleblower said he had examined recruitment over a 15-month period for the police constable entry programme.
In the 489 days between June 2022 and October 2023, vacancies were available for ethnic minority candidates for 446 days, it is claimed (file image)
In the 489 days between June 2022 and October 2023, vacancies were available for ethnic minority candidates for 446 days, he said.
In comparison, white British candidates had 99 days available for applicants to apply for entry-level policing jobs.
West Yorkshire Police has re-iterated its emphasis on addressing ‘under-representation’.
A spokesman said: ‘The most recent census found that 23 per cent of people in West Yorkshire identified as being from an ethnic minority background. Our current police officer representation from ethnic minority backgrounds is around nine per cent. To address this under-representation, we use Positive Action under the Equality Act 2010.
‘Our use of this was recently reviewed by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services in an Activism and Impartiality inspection, and no issues were identified.
‘Positive Action allows people from under-represented groups who express an interest in joining the force to complete an application, which is then held on file until a recruitment window is opened.
‘No interviews are held until the window is officially opened to all candidates.’
