Police Race Action Plan update report

A new anti-racism commitment for policing has been published amidst a widespread renewal of support from across the criminal justice system to deliver improvements for Black communities.

Policing minister Diana Johnson is among several senior leaders to renew their commitment towards driving improvements in police culture in the latest report from the Police Race Action Plan (PRAP).

At the heart of the update is a new Anti-Racism Commitment for policing.

The commitment aims to set out the goals of an anti-racist police service, describes anti-racism in a policing context, and the action required to achieve it.

Views from policing, partners in the criminal justice system, civil society groups and communities have shaped the commitment, as well as other published statements of anti-racism.

The update also outlines proposals for a new maturity matrix being developed by the PRAP, a set of performance standards to help assess delivery of the plan and efforts to address racial disparities.

The maturity matrix is a cornerstone of the vision for long term scrutiny and accountability for the plan’s delivery, further details of which are included in the update.

The document contains contributions from 12 different organisations outlining their views on PRAP and its progress, including from the policing minister, senior police officers, agencies such as the Crown Prosecution Service as well as representatives from civil society groups and the National Black Police Association.

The PRAP has also published an update on its progress in delivering actions in the original plan, as well as bringing together examples of work being delivered in local forces in support of the PRAP’s objectives.

The update is the second major report published by the plan in nine months, following publication of its first ever progress report in August.

T/DAC Dr Alison Heydari, programme director for the PRAP, said: “This update marks another milestone in our efforts to embed the PRAP and its ambition of delivering an anti-racist police service into the DNA of policing.

“I firmly believe that the plan is evolving into what people want from the PRAP, and builds on the positive structures that are in place already to deliver an anti-racist police service.

“The Anti-Racism Commitment outlines a clear vision for policing to aspire to in its drive to become anti-racist, outlining values and behaviour which are as relevant to police call handlers and frontline cops as they are to chief constables.

“I know that we will never please everyone, and I will always welcome constructive challenge on our work. But I truly believe the new direction of the plan outlined in this document starts to reshape the PRAP into something that directly reflects what our communities want from us to change.

“Now though, we must deliver it. I hope you can help us do so, as the plan will undoubtedly have a better chance of success if we all work together.”

PR provided by National Police Chiefs’ Counci