ISOB Annual Feedback Report May 2024 - May 2025 Flipbook Version by

CHAIR’SFOREWORD

REFLECTIONSFROMCCSARAHCREW

EXECUTIVESUMMARY PARTA:EXECUTIVESUMMARY

ACCOUNTABILITYAFTERPRAP:MATURITYMATRIXANDOVERSIGHTPRINCIPLES

OURCALLSTOACTION

WORKSTREAMOVERVIEWS

PARTB:THELEGACYOFPRAP

STRUCTUREFORCHANGE:WHYTHEMATURITYMATRIXMATTERS

WhatistheMaturityMatrix?

TransparencyandPublicAccess

MitigatingbiasinreportinganduseoftheMaturityMatrix

ANTI-RACISMINPOLICINGAFTERPRAP

INTERNALSCRUTINYANDACCOUNTABILITYSTRUCTURES

TheroleoftheChiefConstables’Council

TheroleoftheNationalBlackPoliceAssociation

BUILDINGEXTERNALOVERSIGHT

Engagingthemore“difficulttoreach”and‘Unengageable’

STRENGTHENINGFORMALACCOUNTABILITYMECHANISMS

HomeOfficeCoordinationofPRAPScrutiny

EmbeddingPRAPaccountabilityintoHMICFRSInspectionFrameworks

LOCALANDNATIONALSCRUTINYINPRACTICE

Communityengagementatforcelevel

TheroleoftheNationalCommunityReferenceGroup(NCRG)

WORKSTREAM1:CULTUREANDWORKFORCE

BlackHistoryEducation

RecruitmentandProgression

EthnicityPayGapReporting

BlackWorkforceSurvey

HateCrimesAgainstBlackOfficers

Misconduct,Discipline,andVetting

LeadingInclusiveTeams

AccessandSupportforBPAsandRaceEqualityNetworks

Adultification

BeyondthePlan:BuildingCredibility,DeliveringChange

Chair’sForeword byAbimbola Johnson, Independent Scrutinyand OversightBoard

OverthepastfouryearsofthePoliceRace ActionPlan(PRAP),oneofthemore dishearteningpatternshasbeenthesenseof déjàvu.Encounteringthesameindividuals revisitingthesameissues,andfeelingas thoughweareconstantlyrestartingthesame conversation

Thosewhoremainengagedoftenfind themselvesinroomswithotherswhoshare theircommitment,butwithouttheleversto drivethesystemicchangethatisneeded. Simultaneouslythestructureofpolicingcan makeitalltooeasyforotherstodisengage quietly,tostepbackfromPRAPdelivery withoutfacinganyrealaccountability.This createsanunevenlandscapeofeffortwhereacommittedfewshouldertheweight ofthework,whileothersremainonthe peripheryTheresultisthatvaluabletimeand energycanbespentexpressingfrustration andbattlingthroughblockers,ratherthan collectivelymovingforward.

ChairingtheISOBisaroleItakeseriouslyandam deeplycommittedtoYetitisalsoapersonally wearingone.Muchofmytimeisspentengaging withpeoplebothwithinpolicingandacrosscivil society,whoarestrivingtopushthiswork forward.Yet,myroleoftenrequiresmeto challengethem,pointingoutwhereeffortsare fallingshortorwhereblindspotspersistThat dynamiccanbedifficult.Ialsooftenfindmyself intheawkwardpositionoftryingtohighlightthe contextbehindPRAPtogroupswhofeel alienatedfromitExplainingaprogramthey havenotbeenpartofshapinganddonotfeel connectedto.Thisdualitycanbecomeisolating. IcanfeelasthoughIamnotquiteprovidingthe serviceanyonewouldlikemeto.However,I continuebecauseIbelievethatscrutiny,when exercisedhonestlyandconstructively,isavital toolforbuildingsomethingbetter

AsChair,Ihaveseenrealdedicationfrommany individualsworkinghardtomovethisagenda forward.However,Ihavealsoseenhowdifficultit istoshiftsystemsandculturesthatwerenever designedwithracialequityattheircoreItcame asnosurprise,therefore,toreadtheGuardian’s analysisinMay2025thatonly

Asweneartheconclusionofcentrallyfunded PRAPoversight,ourfocushasnecessarily sharpened.Whiletherehasbeennational progressunderPRAP,itremainsinconsistent andtoooftenfallsshortofthescaleand speedthatcommunitiesexpectanddeserve.

Akeychallengenowistoensuremeaningful andlastingchange.Thatwillinvolvemaking surethatfuturescrutineersmovethiswork forwardwithmeaningfulempowermentfrom centralGovernmentandthattheir membershipincludesvitalsubjectmatter expertise

Weremainconcernedbyalackofclarityfrom thePRAPcentralteamaboutwhichpolice forcesaremeetingtheirobjectives,andwhat enablesorhinderstheirsuccess.Despitethe team’sexperienceaccumulatedoverthepast fouryears,knowledgehasnotbeen systematicallycapturedorsharedinways thatreassureuswillsupportasmooth transitionbeyondMarch2026.Bothlocal forcesandnationalleadshaveraised concernsaboutalackofcoordinationandthe absenceofpracticaltoolstosupport continueddeliveryAtthesametime,wedo notbelievepoliceleadershiphaspushedPRAP toachieveitspotentialeitherthrough championingitorthroughconstructivelyand meaningfullyscrutinisingandchallenging PRAP’swork

Ourconclusionisthatthemosteffectivewayto drivechangeisthroughthetoolbeing developedtomeasurePRAPdeliveryacross forces:TheMaturityMatrixForthefirsttimein policinginEnglandandWales,therewillbean evidence-basedtooltoassesshoweffectively forcesareembeddinganti-racism.Thismarksa significantstepforwardanditspotentialfor transformationshouldnotbeoverlooked

OurhopeisthatthiswilldrivePRAPdelivery towardsoutcomeslinkedtoanti-racism.Thatit willintroducealeveloftransparencywhichwill enablemeaningfulanddetailedscrutinytotake placeandthatwithbuy-infromcentral governmentandstatutoryinspectionbodies, nationalcivilsocietyorganisation,local communitygroups,andstatutoryaccountability andscrutinybodies,itwillhavetheteethtopush forcestomakedeliveryapriority

Weremaincautiouslyhopeful.Withtheright leadershipandcollaboration,webelievethis canstillbeaturningpointTheworkaheadis complex,butnecessary.

WearegratefultoTheRunnymedeTrust,Justfor KidsLaw,theNationalBlackPoliceAssociation andtoCCSarahCrewforprovidingspecific inputintothisyear’sreportIamespecially gratefultoeachofmyBoardmembersfortheir continuedcommitmenttothiswork.

“Valuabletimeandenergycanbe spentexpressingfrustrationand battlingthroughblockers,rather thancollectivelymoving forward.”

1/3 oftherecommendationsfrommajor reportscommissionedtotackle endemicracismintheUK(notjustin policing)overthepast40yearshave actuallybeenimplemented 1

Communities,bothwithinandbeyond policingareoftenunclearaboutPRAP’s purposeorprogress,andmanydonot recogniseitasaprogrammedevelopedin genuinepartnershipwiththem.Acrossthe sector,expertiseisunder-used,andcritical questionsabouthowPRAPwillbestructured andsupportedinthefutureremain unanswered

IwouldparticularlyliketothankMichelleStead forherinvaluablesecretarialsupport,without whichitwouldnotbepossibletoruntheISOB

Finally,IthankViyaNsumbu,whosehoursof work,keeneyefordetailandshrewd communicationsexpertisehaveguidedthe Boardoverheryearswithusandthroughthis, herlastreportwithus. AbimbolaJohnson Chair,IndependentScrutiny&OversightBoard 12June2025

REFLECTIONS FROM CC SARAH CREW

“SpeakingPlainly,LeadingHonestly”

Reflectionson Policing,Anti-Racism andLeadershipfrom ChiefConstable SarahCrew

WhenIstoodupinJune2023andpublicly acknowledgedthatAvonandSomerset Policeisinstitutionallyracist,Ididsoknowing itwouldbeuncomfortable,evenpainful

Forsomeitwastoomuch.Forothers,not enoughForme,itwastherightthing,andthe necessarythingtosay

Thisadmissionwasnotaboutblaming individualsordiscreditingthemanygood peoplewhoworkinpolicingItwasabout takingresponsibilityforthesystemsand structuresthat,toooften,produceunequal outcomes,particularlyforBlackcommunities.

Ireachedthisconclusionnotinisolation,but throughyearsoflistening.Listeningtopeople inourcommunitieswhofeelover-policed andunder-protectedListeningtoBlack officersandstaffnavigatingenvironments wheretheydonotalwaysfeelsafeor supported.Listeningtocommunityleaders, faithgroups,andfamilieswhohavecarried theburdenofmistrustforfartoolong.

TheconversationsIhadbeforemakingthe admissionweredifficultbutvital.The conversationssincehavebeennoless challengingSomehavewelcomedthe honesty.Othersremainsceptical,and understandablyso.Blackcommunitieshave heardthesamediscussionssincethemurder ofStephenLawrenceaquarterofacentury agoWordsalonearenotenoughTrusthas beenbrokenWemustshow,notjustsay,that thistimeisdifferent.

OneoftheclearestlessonsIhavelearnedisthat thereisnoeasyfix.Thisworkrequires commitmentpersistenteffortandurgency TherearenoshortcutsAcknowledging institutionalracismisonlythestartingpoint. Whatmattersiswhatwedonext,andwhether ouractionsmatchourintentions

Withthatinmind,inAvonandSomersetPolice, wehavecommittedtomeaningfulchange.We haveestablishedtwoISOBs:Onefocusesonthe PRAPTheotheraddressesbroaderconcernsof disproportionalityacrossthecriminaljustice system.TheseBoardsareessentialtoour accountability.Theychallengeus,guideus,and ensureoureffortsarerootedinlivedexperience, notinstitutionalconvenience

Wemustconfrontdatathatspeaksforitself.For example,in2024/25,Blackpeopleinourarea werestilloverfivetimesmorelikelytobe stoppedandsearchedthantheirwhite counterparts.Thisisnotdefensible.Wehave reviewedhowthesepowersareused,placing oureffortsinintelligence-ledapproaches investingintrainingandcommittingtogreater transparency,butthereisclearlysomuchmore todotocreateanequitablesystem.

Accountabilitymustextendtotheindividuals andteamsoperatingwithinthesystem. Wheredatarevealsoutliersin disproportionality-whetherinstopand search useofforce,orotherkeyareasof policing-weareinvestigatingthesepatterns andacting Thisisnotaboutblame,butabout ensuringfairness,transparency,andlearning ateverylevel

Transformingtheculturewithinthepolice workforceiscrucialforachievinglasting changeandisacentralaspectofour anti-raciststrategy Overthepasttwoyears, over2000officershaveparticipatedinour RaceMatterstrainingprogramme.This programmehasbeendesignedwithexperts fromoutsideofpolicingtotransform organisationalculture,buildtrustwithracial minoritycommunities,andequipofficerswith theinsightandconfidencetoleadinclusively.

Atanationallevel,thePRAPhasbeenan importantstep Aplanwillnotbuildtrust Onlydeliverywill.

Lookingaheadto2026andbeyond,police forces,includingmyown,haveworktodo.I believewemust: Ifwecannotaccepttherealityof institutionalracism,we willnotmoveforward.Wecannotfixwhat werefusetoacknowledge. Communityengagementcannotbe symbolic.Itmustshapedecisionsand exerciseaccountability Thatmeans resourcingandrespondingtoscrutiny,not justlisteningtoit.

Systemsareonlyasfairasthe peoplewhoshapeandoperatethem.

ourareatobestoppedand searchedthantheirWhite counterpartsin2024/2025

“Wemustresistthetemptation toconfuseactivitywith impact.”

Communityconfidenceisnotearnedby whatwesayinpoliceheadquarters.Itisbuilt bywhatpeopleseeandfeelontheground, anditisreflectedinmetricssuchasstop andsearchrates,workforcerepresentation, andoveralltrustandconfidenceinthe police.

Idonotpretendtohavealltheanswers.Iam learningasIgo.Thisworkisnoteasy,butitis essentialandurgent.Itdemandshumility, persistence,andawillingnesstostayinthe discomfort Nevertheless,Iamcommitted becausewithouttrust,thereisnoconsent;and withoutconsent,thereisnolegitimacyto police

TotheISOB:thankyou Yourroleisessential Yourchallengeiswelcomed.Yourscrutinywill continuetoshapehowwegrowintothe anti-racistorganisationweaspiretobe.

SarahCrew,ChiefConstable, AvonandSomersetPolice

PARTA Executive Summary

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

EXECUTIVESUMMARY

ThisreportistheISOB’sthirdannual assessmentofthePoliceRaceActionPlan, providinganindependentreviewofwhether commitmentsmadebypolicingareleading totangiblechangeforBlackcommunities.

ThePRAPwascreatedtorespondto long-standingfailuresintrust,protection,and fairness Thecredibilityofanti-racismin policingdependsonwhetheritdeliversreal results,notjuststrategicstatements

2 Ourreviewfindsthatsomeareasare beginningtomoveintherightdirection.

Workstream2(PowersandProcedures)has seennewleadershipandgreatermomentum. Nationalreformstovehiclestopdataarelong overdueandnowfinallyunderway.British TransportPolice’simprovementstoethnicity datacollectionofferapracticalmodelfor otherstofollow.Despitethesesteps, significantconcernsremainRacial disproportionalityintheuseofstopand searchpersistsTherearestillseriousdata gaps,inconsistentbody-wornvideo(BWV) practices,andscrutinypanelsthatlack independenceorcommunityrepresentation Workstream1(CultureandWorkforce) continuestosufferfromstalledactivityin criticalareassuchasrace-basedhate crimes,misconduct,andvetting.Workstream 3(TrustandReconciliation)hasdelivered nationalguidancebutlacksthepractical toolstosupportlocal-levelchangeThe creationoftheNationalCommunity ReferenceGroup(NCRG),alongsiderenewed engagementwithcivilsocietyorganisations, signalssomewillingnesstoopenpolicingup tochallengeWorkstream4(Safetyand Victimisation)remainstheleastadvanced withlimiteddeliverypoordata,andnovisible progressinimprovingsafetyforBlack communities.

Methodology

Thisreportdrawsoninsight fromISOB’songoing monitoringofthePRAP, includingdocumentreview, attendanceatnationaland regionalPRAPmeetings,and engagementwiththeHome Office,policeforces(including forcevisits),civilsociety organisations,and communityrepresentatives acrossEnglandandWales.It reflectsevidencegathered betweenMay2024andMay 2025,supplementedbylived experience,stakeholder feedback,andanalysisof publiclyavailableand privatelydiscloseddata.

Allfindingsand recommendationsare informedbyISOB’sremitto provideindependent, constructivescrutiny groundedintransparency, accountability,andanti-racist principles.

ACCOUNTABILITYAFTERPRAP:MATURITYMATRIX ANDOVERSIGHTPRINCIPLES

FundingforthecentralPRAPteamendsin March2026.Thiscreatesasharpdeadlinefor transitionButasitstands,theprogrammeis notreadytobehandedovertolocalforces andnationalpoliceleads

ThecentralteamhasnotgrownPRAPtoa levelofmaturitywhereitsaimsareclearly understoodacrosspolicingorwhereforces fullyunderstandwhatisrequiredofthem TheMaturityMatrix,policing’sfirstforrace andwhichismeanttoserveasPRAP’score accountabilitytool,remainswidely misunderstoodbothwithinpolicingand amongexternalstakeholdersItisnotyet operationalandcannotcurrentlybeusedto holdpolicingtoaccount.Civilsociety organisations,expectedtoleadfuture scrutiny,havenotbeengiventhetoolsor guidanceneededtodoso

TheISOBisclear:Policingmustnowbuildthe infrastructureforfuturedeliveryThisincludes aclearfocusonensuringtheMaturityMatrix ispractical,valuedandoperational

Tomovefromintenttoimpact,theISOBhas identifiedfourpriorityareaswhereurgent changeisneeded

IndependentScrutiny

Independentscrutinymechanismsmustbe reformedtoincludetrustedcommunity members(drawnfromawideand representativecross-section)whoare empoweredtoescalateconcernsand influencechange

Oversightmustincludecivilsociety organisations;policy,anti-racism,legaland strategicexpertise;andbebackedbythe HomeOfficetoencouragecommunities’ trustandengagementwithpolicing.

Scrutineersmustbesupportedtousethe MaturityMatrix,withtailoredguidanceand clearexpectations.

Forcesmustshowhowtheiractionsare improvingoutcomes,notjustincreasing activity.

Progressmustbemeasuredagainst outcomesthatmattertoBlack communities

Alackofcomplianceandimplementation musthavemeaningfulconsequences.

Thedatagapinethnicityrecordingfor relevantpoliceencountersmustbeclosed tomakeracialdisparitiesvisibleand actionable

ThisdatamustfeedintotheMaturityMatrix whichinturnneedstobefunctionaland usedasalivetoolfortrackinganti-racist outcomes–notleftasatheoretical framework

WithcentralfundingendinginMarch2026 thereislimitedtimetobuildasustainable modelforPRAP.Thecurrentmodelhasno systemiccapabilityForcesdonot understandorownPRAPsgoals

Nationalleadershipmustnowfocuson buildingcapabilityandaccountabilityacross thesystem,notjustcoordinatingfromthe centre

OURCALLSTOACTION

ThecentralPRAPteammustpublish forcessufficienttimetounderstand Alongsidethis theteam’sfocussho practical,public-facingresourcest materialsandguidance,toolkitstai bespokesupportforone-personPR toolstoguidelocalimplementation beusefulbothtothepoliceandthe

TheChiefs’Councilshouldtakeamo team’swork.Thisincludesagreeinga regularlymonitoringprogress,ande andexpertsItalsorequirespolicing deliveryshouldlooklikeafterMarch

Critically,theCouncilshouldassess endpoint-and,ifnot,plannowforw

Datagapsareapersistentissueinp PRAP.TheHomeOfficemustuseitss policingtowardsmeaningfulcompli effectivemonitoringandscrutiny.

TheHomeOfficeshouldbeginprepa orfundingcivilsocietyandexpert-le holdingstructured,minuteddiscussi experts,andsupportingoutreacheff input.

TheHomeOfficemustalsoclearlyco andtoreviewpastmodelsofcomm anyfuturemechanisms.

WORKSTREAMOVERVIEWS

Asummaryofprogress,gapsandprioritiesacrosseachofthefourcoreareasofthePRAP.

Workstream1: CultureandWorkforce

Whereprogressisbeingmade

Blackhistorylearningmodulesdevelopedandrolledoutacrossallforces

Nationalrecruitmentframeworklaunched withafocusonintersectionality

Ethnicitypaygapreportingadoptedbysomeforces,aheadofnationallegislation

LeadingInclusiveTeamspilotintroducedtobuildculture-shiftingleadership

BlackWorkforceSurveyrelaunchedafterdelays,capturinglivedexperience

Whereprogressisfallingshort

NoevidencethatBlackhistoryeducationisreachingtherightaudiencesorchanging behaviour

Recruitmentreformsnotembeddedconsistentlyortrackedforimpact

Workonmisconduct,vettingandrace-basedhatecrimesremainsstalled Blackofficerandstaffinsightsremainunderused

Whatneedstohappennext

Resumeurgentactiononmisconductandrace-basedhate withclearleadership accountability

Moverecruitmentstandardsfromguidancetodeliverywithmeasurableoutcomes Commissionawiderworkforcesurveytoenablemeaningfulcomparison

RobustandobjectiveevaluationoftheLeadingInclusiveTeamspilotandcommitto nationalrolloutifeffective

EmbedthepolicingexpertiseandlivedexperienceofBlackofficersacrossdelivery not justconsultation

Workstream2: PowersandProcedures

Whereprogressisbeingmade

Trauma-informed scenario-basedtrainingpilotedtoreduceuseofforce Ethnicitydatacollectionforvehiclestopsunderway,withnationalrolloutby2026 NewBWVguidanceintroduced,including30-secondpre-recordfeature ClosercollaborationbetweenPRAPandnationalstopandsearchleadership

ForcessuchasBritishTransportPoliceclosingtheethnicitydatagapthrough targetedaction

CollegeofPolicinganalysisoftheMillenniumCohortStudyontheimpactof beingstoppedasateenagerhasbeencompleted,reportanticipatedlaterin 2025

Whereprogressisfallingshort

Persistentracialdisparityinstopandsearch,withlimitedsignsofimprovement Livefacialrecognitiontechnologyrolledoutwithoutkeyanti-racismfocus

Scrutinypanelscontinuetolackindependence,transparency,andescalationpowers DatacomplianceonBWVandethnicityrecordingremainsinconsistent EngagementbykeyforcessuchastheMetropolitanPoliceremainsunderdeveloped andlacksreformfocus

Whatneedstohappennext

Embedpolicepowerscrutinymechanismsthatarecommunity-led,independent, andtransparent-withrealpowertoholdforcestoaccount

Ensurenewtechnologiesarebackedbyananti-raciststrategyandindependent impactreviews

Trackoutcomes notjustactivity-forcesmustshowhowimplementationwill improveracialequity

Ensureethnicitydataiscollectedforallvehiclestopsandsubmittedthroughthe AnnualDataRequirementtoenabletransparencyandactiononracedisparity

Closetheethnicitydatagapinstopandsearchacrossallforces,matchingthe progressmadebyBritishTransportPolice

Promptpublicationofevaluativeworkthathasbeenundertakene.g.the aforementionedMillenniumCohortStudy

Workstream3: TrustandReconciliation

Whereprogressisbeingmade

Newnationalguidanceonpolicetransparencyandengagementdeveloped Nationalcommunityengagementworkshopdeliveredto30forces CasestudyfromSouthWalessharedasanearlyexampleoflocalinnovation NCRGestablishedtoadvisePRAP

Whereprogressisfallingshort

Limitedactivitytosupportmeaningfulengagementatforcelevel Restorativejusticepilotdelayed,withonlyoneforceparticipating NCRG’sremitmisalignedwithforce-levelneedsandlackingvisibility MissedopportunitiestoinvolvecommunitiesinPRAPlearninganddelivery

Whatneedstohappennext

Supportforcestotranslatenationalguidanceintovisiblelocalaction,especially withyoungpeople

Captureandsharelessonsfromtherestorativejusticepilottoinformfuture delivery

Ensuretherestorativejusticepilotisproperlyconductedandindependently evaluated

ClarifytheNCRG’sremitandinvestinmorelocallyfocusedengagement infrastructure

Followuponthenationalworkshop,trackimplementation andembedcommunity voicesinfuturesessions

Workstream4: SafetyandVictimisation

Whereprogressisbeingmade

Adultificationevidencereviewcompleted,markingasteptowardaddressingbias againstBlackchildren

Mentoringschemepilotedtostrengthenunderstandingbetweenpolicingand Blackleadership

Light-touchupdatesmadetoAuthorisedProfessionalPractice(APP)guidanceon areasincludinghatecrimeandmentalhealth

Whereprogressisfallingshort

LowengagementwiththeProfessionalConversationswhichisnowunlikelytoroll outnationally

APPguidanceupdateslackeddepthandfailedtodrivemeaningfulchange Ethnicitydataremainsincompleteandinconsistentacrossforces.Thedatagap forworkrelatingtothisworkstreamalonesitsataround404%

Nometricsinplacetotrackwhethersafetyandprotectionoutcomesare improving

Limitedoperationaldeliveryatforcelevel

Whatneedstohappennext

Embedfindingsfromtheadultificationreviewintotraining,operationalpolicies, andfrontlineguidanceinconsultationwithgroupswithsubjectmatterexpertise Developaclearnationalplantoincreasepoliceunderstandingofadultificationin practice

Undertaketheoriginalcommitmenttodata-driveninsightintohowcrime impactsBlackcommunities

Establishnationalstandardsandincentivesforcompleteethnicitydatacollection Embedclearperformancemetricsandpublishregularupdatesondeliveryand outcomes

Refocustheworkstreamontangibledelivery,withstrongerleadershipand accountability

PARTB TheLegacy ofPRAP

STRUCTUREFORCHANGE:

WHYTHEMATURITY MATRIXMATTERS

Overthepastyear,thePRAPhas takenanimportant,ifoverdue,step towardsembeddinganti-racismin policinginfrastructure.

Attheheartofthisshiftisthedevelopmentof theMaturityMatrix-anewtooldesignedto assesspoliceforces’progressagainstPRAP, notjustonactivitybutondepth,consistency, andembeddingofanti-racismwork.

Thistool,underpinnedbyanAnti-Racism Commitment,introducesafive-stagemodel -fromInitiatingtoLeading-againstwhich forceswillbeassessed Itsintroductionisthe mostsubstantivedevelopmentofthe Programmetodateandreflectsgrowing recognitionthatsustainablechangerequires structuredaccountability.Forthefirsttimein policinginEnglandandWales,forceswillbe expectedtoshownotjustactivity,butreal, measurablechangeintheirapproachtorace andpolicing.Theintroductionofthisstandard isaclearstepforwardandagenuinecredit tothecentralteamfordrivingitthrough.

Whatisthematuritymatrix?

TheMaturityMatrixisaframeworkdesignedtoassesshowwellpoliceforcesareprogressing againsttheambitionsofPRAP.Itaimstoensurethatpoliceorganisationsaremovingbeyond statementsandtowardsdemonstrableembeddedcultural,andoperationalchange.

Itsetsoutafive-stagematuritymodel,withforcesassessedas:Initiating,Challenging, Demonstrating,Innovating,orLeading.

PRAPMaturityMatrixProgressionLadder (DirectionofProgressShownbyArrow)

Leading (Exemplarforcesinfluencingnationalpractice)

Innovating (Embeddingandtestingnew,effectivepractices)

Demonstrating (Consistentorganisation-wideprogress)

ButtheMaturityMatrixcomeslate.Foryears, theISOB,NBPA,andcivilsocietyorganisations haveurgedPRAPtocreateaDashboardto monitorandassessforce-levelprogresson anti-racism.PreviousISOBreports recommendedtheintroductionof “measurableanddemonstrableperformance frameworks.” Itisashame,therefore,that thiscallisonlybeingansweredinPRAP’sfinal yearinitscurrentformat

Althoughsubstantial groundworkhasbeenlaid sinceMay2024,thereisstill significantprogresstobe madeoverthenextyearwhile thecentralteamremainsin place.Theymuststay focusedanddemonstrate theirvalueasahubfor coordination,insight,and accountability.

ThissectionoutlinestheMaturity Matrixtogroundourreflectionson PRAP’scurrentdevelopment.With onlyhigh-levelinformationpublicly available,wefeltitimportantto clarifyitsfoundationsbefore assessingtheprioritiesfortheyear ahead.

Name

Title

Challenging (Interrogatingandimprovingexistingpractices)

Initiating (Startingtheanti-racismjourney)

Theterm‘MaturityMatrix’isbothinaccessible languageandbearsanuncomfortable resemblancetothecontroversial"gangs matrix,"whichrisksunderminingtrustand buy-infromtheverycommunitiesitaimsto serve.

WhileMaturityMatrixisatermcommonly usedbyorganisationssuchastheNHStotrack progressandguidetransformation,itsusein policingrequiresgreatercareUnlikeinternal tools,thismatrixisintendedtobeusedbythe publictoholdforcestoaccount.Thename musttherefore,beaccessibleand,most importantlyavoidassociationswith controversialsystemslikethe“gangsmatrix,” whichhasbeenwidelycriticisedfor disproportionatelytargetingyoungBlackmen. Thisiscrucialtomaintainingpublictrust.5

Development

Thisworkhasbeenledbyasmallbutconsistent centralteam,withcontinuityofleadershipviaa secondedSuperintendentfromThamesValley PoliceThisstabilityhasallowedthemodelto evolvewithgreaterclarityandpurposeover time.

Title

Theteamfacilitatedwide-rangingconsultation withthefollowinggroups:

Civilsocietyorganisations

Staffnetworksandassociationssuchas theNBPA

Policeforcesandnationalpolicingbodies

StatutoryagenciesincludingHMICFRSand theIOPC

Centralgovernment

Thetechnical andforensic natureofthe

MaturityMatrix’s designisoneof itsstrengths.

Thedevelopmentworkhasproducedasuite ofdetaileddocumentswhichhavebeen sharedwithus,including:

Anevidencebasethatoutlinesthe originsofeachmaturitystandard, drawingonacademicresearch,lived experience,civilsocietyinputand examplesofbestpractice

Fourteenstandardscoveringkey operationalandculturalareas,each withdefinedgoals,measures,and indicators

Afive-stagematuritymodel(asshown above)thatoffersaphasedviewof organisationaldevelopmentand progression.

Adraftimplementationandtesting scheduleinvolvingselectedforces throughout2025

Thedevelopmentprocessforthe MaturityMatrixhasimprovedover time,supportedbyagenuineeffortto engagestakeholders.However, seriousconsultationchallenges remain.

Thetechnicalandforensicnatureof theMaturityMatrix’sdesignisoneof itsstrengths.Anti-racismworklives inthedetail.Itrequiresongoing scrutinyconstantchallenge,and vigilantoversight.

However,thatcomplexityalsomakesitdifficult tonavigate,anditsimplementationhighly resource-intensive.Thistensionwasevident throughouttheconsultationprocess

First,thedevelopmentprocessdidnotinvolve theinstructionofexpertswithpractical experienceinimplementinganti-racismwork throughpolicyorchangemanagement

Secondly,civilsocietyorganisationsoften reportedfeelingoverwhelmedbythesheer volumeofmaterialorfrustratedwheninvitedto sessionswithoutreceivingdocumentsin advance.Participantswereexpectedtoengage withdetailedbriefsandrespondtocomplex questionsHowever,doingsomeaningfully requiredsubstantialpreparation, cross-organisationalcoordination,andan in-depthunderstandingofpolicing.Asaresult, conversationsoftenstayedatsurfacelevel,with littletimetointerrogatetheMaturityMatrixitself. Instead,discussionsfrequentlyveeredtowards broaderconcerns,suchastheNBPA’stemporary suspensionofPRAPsupport,theroleoftheHome Office,ortheresourcingchallengesfacedby scrutinybodies.

Thesedynamicshighlightafundamentalissue: theMaturityMatrixcannotsucceedasan accountabilitytoolunlessthosescrutinisingit areresourcedtrained,andsupportedinitsuse. Withoutthisscrutinywillremainsymbolic,not substantive

TheISOBhasobservedsimilarissuesinside policing.Officersresponsiblefor implementationremainunclearastohowto applytheMaturityMatrixinpractice Inmany forces,responsibilityforPRAPdeliverysitswith smallteamsorevenindividuals,withlittle structureinplacetoassessmaturity.Even whereraceactionplansaremoredeveloped theMaturityMatrixisoftenviewedasjust anotheradministrativerequirement.

Thisuncertaintyextendstonationalpolice leaders,includingthosewhowillinherit responsibilityforPRAPdeliveryafterMarch 2026Fewappeartounderstandhowthe handoverwillworkorhowtheyareexpectedto engagewithorembedtheMaturityMatrixin theirwork.

TransparencyandPublicAccess

InMarch2025,aPRAPupdatewaspublishedon theNationalPoliceChiefs’Council’s(NPCC) website,offeringonlyahigh-levelsummaryof theMaturityMatrixstandards. Whileitstated thatfurtherupdateswouldbesharedoverthe next12months,notimelineorsupporting documentationwasprovided 7

TheISOBrecommendsthatthefull MaturityMatrixdocumentationbe publishedwithoutdelay.

Earlypublicationwould:

Buildnationalfamiliarityandunderstanding oftheMaturityMatrix

Allowforfeedback,refinement,andgreater publiclegitimacy

Supportscrutinyandexternalaccountability

“Forittosucceed,therewill alsoneedtobeanattitudinal shiftwithinpolicing.”

Atpresent,thereislittlecultureofopen reflectionorsharedlearningTheCollegeof Policing’sPracticeBank ,forexample,lists over250entriestagged“race/ethnicity,”but almostallarecategorisedas“promising”or “innovative.”Nonereflectinitiativesthat“did notwork”Thismayrequireanaspirational levelofreflectionandisacriticismthatcanbe levelledatmanyBritishinstitutionsForatool liketheMaturityMatrixtodeliver,itwillrequire anabilitytoopenlyandhonestlyanalyse negativeorunderperformingoutcomes.

Throughoutourworkwehaveseena reluctancetoengagewithfailure-anda widerdiscomfortwithcriticism.Thereneedsto beaculturalshifttowardunderstandingwhy thingsdoordonotworkEvenwhenpilotsor activitiesfallshortoftheirgoals,theyoffer valuablelearning.Embracingthismindsetis essentialtobecomingagenuinelyreflective andlearningorganisation.

AlignwithPRAP’sstatedcommitmentto transparency

Wehavebeeninformedthattestingwill proceedinphases:

February-May2025

Initialtestinginfivepoliceforces,focused onareasincludingcommunity engagementandpoliceleadership.

June-August2025

Asecondwaveofforce-levelassessment trialsinvolvingaround10forces

FromSeptember2025

Plannedfullrolloutacrossallforces

Thistimelinemeansmostforceswillnotseea fullversionoftheMaturityMatrixuntiljustsix monthsbeforecentralPRAPfundingendsin March2026.Itremainsunclearwhethernational supportandguidancewillbeinplacebythat pointandthetimelinelacksclarityastowhen materialsandaccesswillbegiventothewider publicGiventhistightwindow,transparency andtimelypublicationarenotjusthelpful,they areessentialtosuccess.

Remainingchallengesandareas fordevelopment

FortheMaturityMatrixtoreachitsfull potential,urgentworkisstillrequiredacross fivecoreareas:

Moderationand accountability 1

Acrediblesystemforassessingprogress mustcombineself-assessmentwith independentoversightThisincludes:

Transparentforce-levelself-evaluation withcheckstomitigatebias

Independentmoderationbythecentral team

Peerandregionalbenchmarkingfor consistency

Scrutinyandreviewinvolvingsubject matterexperts,civilsocietyand community

Presentationanddata visualisation

HowtheMaturityMatrixispresentedmatters.To supportpublicscrutiny,PRAPshouldprioritise:

Force-leveldashboardsandsummaries

Real-timeorregularlyupdatedprogress trackers

Interactivevisualisationtoolswherepossible

Modelsfromothersectors,suchasthe

PreventableDeathsTrackerdevelopedbyDr GeorgiaRichards,showwhatispossiblewith focusandintent.8 2

Publicguidanceand usability

TheMatrixmustbeaccessibletoboth professionalsandthepublicThisrequires:

Cleardefinitionsandmaturitycriteria

Real-worldcasestudiesandexamples

Atransparentevidencebaseshowinghow standardsweredeveloped

Thesemechanismsmustbeunderpinnedby agreedindicatorsandclearmethodologies toallowformeaningfulcomparisonacross forces (alargerversionofthesechartsare availableinAppendix1)

Formatsthatmakethematerialusableat locallevel

4 Sustainabilityand ownership

TheMatrixcannotbetreatedasaone-offtool. Tosecurelong-termimpactitmustbe embeddedintomainstreamaccountability structures:

IntegratedintoHomeOfficedatacollection processes(egAnnualDataRequirements) UsedbyPoliceandCrimeCommissioners tomonitorandholdforcesaccountable FormallyincorporatedintoHMICFRS inspectionsandIOPCperformancereview StructuredsothatMatrixdatacaninform legalorregulatoryprocesses

Permanentstructures post-2026 5

AfterMarch2026PRAP’scentralresourcewill end.TosustaintheMatrix:

Forcesmustestablishregionalleadsto adaptnationaltoolstolocalcontexts Centralgovernmentshouldfund independentevaluators(e.g.academic institutionsorNGOs)

Quarterlyreviewsessionsandannual publichearingsshouldbescheduled Nationalcoordinationfunctionsmustbe formallyresourcedbeyondPRAP’scurrent lifecycle

Mitigatingbiasinreportingand useoftheMaturityMatrix

IftheMatrixistoserveasagenuinetoolfor improvement,itmustreflectreality,notjust optimism.Thismeans: Forcesmustuseclear,objectivedatato demonstratewhat,ifany,progressis beingmadeandtoexplainfuturepriorities Reportingmustbedata-led

Settingexpectationsforbalance

Forcesmustbeguidedtohighlightboth successesandareasofdifficulty Earlystagescouldallowanonymisedor non-punitivesubmissionstoencourage openness

Creatingsafespacesforreflection

Requiringstructuredreflection

Built-inpromptsfor“lessonslearned”or “challengesencountered”candrivemore honestassessments

Enablingindependentmoderation

Apanelofindependentreviewerscan checkforover-reportingandprompt candour

Buildingfeedbackloops

Forcesshouldrevisitearlierassessments andrefineentriesaslearningdevelops

Seniorleadersshoulddemonstrate balancedreflectiontobuildacultureof transparencyandtrust Modellingreflectionfromthetop

INTERNALSCRUTINYAND

ACCOUNTABILITY STRUCTURES

Foranti-racismworktooutlastanysingle planorpledge,itmustbecomeintegrated intotheverycoreofpolicingThisrequires robustinternalstructuresthattrackprogress, challengepoorpracticeandlearnfrom failure.Whenforcesputinplaceclear, transparentmechanismstheycreatethe conditionsforlastingchange.Thesetoolscan serveasearlywarningsystemsandengines ofimprovement,butonlyiftheyare independentenoughtoensurehonesty, resourcedenoughtobeeffective,and empoweredenoughtodriveaction.

Crucially,theyrequiregenuineleadership, andmustbetrustedbyofficers,communities, andthoseusingthemandtreatedascentral topolicing,notasperipheraladd-ons.

TheroleoftheChiefConstables’ Council

ForPRAPtosucceedbeyonditscurrent fundinganddeliverystructuretheChiefs Constables’Councilmustnowtakeclearand coordinatedownershipofitsfutureIts leadershipwilldeterminewhetherPRAP becomesembeddedwithineverydaypolicing orremainsatime-limitedinitiative

Thisresponsibilityincludesprovidingnational leadershipandrobustgovernanceAs figureheads,Chiefsindividuallyhold significantpower,whichcanrefocusnational conversationsaboutpolicingandrace.It wouldtherefore,bepositivetoseeChiefsuse theirinfluentialplatformstospeakaboutthe nuanceanddetailofanti-racismworkin policingmorefrequentlyandconsistently, bothtoofficerswithintheserviceandtothe public.

TheCouncilmustactivelyengagewiththe detailsofthePRAPcentralteam’swork.This wouldassistChiefswithopportunitiestoshare localworkwithpeersandtoidentifyareasof workthattheycantakebacktotheirownforces. Thiskindofrelationshipwouldalsoencourage thePRAPcentralteamtoworkinamannerthat lendsitselftodialogueandtoproperrecordkeepingItwouldfacilitatetheinformation sharingandcoordinationforwhichwehave frequentlyheardforcesandcommunitiesask.

TheChiefsConstables’Council muststartshapingwhatPRAP deliverywilllooklikebeyond March2026.

Forceswillleaddeliverybutwillstillneedto ensurethatworkisnationallycomparable, sufficientlytransparentandproperly coordinated.ThisincludesembeddingPRAP principlessuchasworkforcedevelopment,data transparency,andinclusivecommunity engagementintoday-to-daypolicingpractice. TheCouncilmustalsoreflectonwhetherMarch 2026remainsarealisticendpointandbewilling toplanaheadforscenariosincludingprovision offurthersupportortime.

TheChiefsConstables’Councilmustalsoensure thatnationalimplementationprioritiesare groundedinreal-worldlearningInsightsfrom peervisits,HMICFRSinspections,andlived experiencepanelsshoulddirectlyinfluencehow PRAPisadaptedanddelivered.Wherelocal innovationproveseffective,orineffective,it shouldbesharedwidelytosupportconsistency andavoidduplication

TheroleoftheNationalBlack PoliceAssociation

Voicesfromwithinpolicing-particularly thosewhoexperienceitfrombothsidesalsohavearoletoplay.TheNationalBlack PoliceAssociation(NBPA)isonesuchvoice, offeringvaluableinsightintointernalpolicing cultureandpractice.Yet,aswithallinternal networks,thereareimportantlimitstowhat theNBPAcanachievealone

TheNBPAholdsauniquepositioninpolicingIt wasbornfromthefrustrationofBlackofficers facingracismunfairtreatment,and disproportionatetargetingbyprofessional standardsinvestigations-issuesthatpersist todaySincetheinceptionofPRAPin2020,the NBPAhasbeenakeystakeholder,helpingto shapeeffortstotackleracisminandbythe police.

TheNBPAanditslocalaffiliatesareoften describedas‘thecanaryinthecoalmine’, offeringearlywarningsfrominsidethe system.Theirmembersexperiencepolicing bothasinsidersandasBlackpeople navigatingthesamesocietalharmsasthe communitiestheyserve.Theirlivedexperience andorganisationalreach-spanningnational, regional,andlocallevels-givethemunique insightintopolicingcultureandpractice.

TheNBPAoperateswithinawiderecosystem ofstaffnetworks,allofwhomhavearoleto playinadvancingequalityandinclusionin policingPRAPhasthepotentialtostrengthen alliancesacrossraceequalitynetworks

TheNBPAremainsacrucialpartnerforPRAP Itsinsightintointernalpolicingdynamicsand organisationalculturecanhelpshapewhat meaningfulaccountabilitylookslike.However, policingmustbecarefulnottorelyonBlack PoliceAssociationsandraceequalitystaff networksasaproxyforbroaderBlack communityengagement.

WehaveobservedinstanceswheretheBPAs andinternalstaffnetworkswereusedinplace ofgenuineexternalconsultationWhilethese groupsprovidevaluableexpertiseinlived realitiesandpoliceculture,thereisariskof conflatingtheirperspectiveswithbroaderBlack culturalorracialexpertise.Theirinputshould complement,notreplace,thevoicesof communitiesoutsideofpolicing.

Civilsocietyorganisations,in particular,haveacriticalrole toplayinensuringthat scrutinyisindependent, visible,androotedinthelived realitiesofthosemost impactedbypolicing practices.

BUILDING EXTERNAL OVERSIGHT

BUILDINGEXTERNAL OVERSIGHT

Overthepastyear,PRAPhastakensome positivestepstoopenupdialoguewith communities.

BetweenJulyandDecember2024,three consultationeventswereheldwithkeycivil societyorganisationsfocusingonthe MaturityMatrixandAnti-Racism Commitment.Thesesessionsgathered feedbackandprovidedaplatformforcivil societyorganisationstochallengeandshape PRAP’sdelivery.Thecentralteamalso supportedthecreationoftheNational CommunityReferenceGroup(NCRG), exploredlaterinthischapter

Furthermore,civilsocietyorganisationshave beguntoholdstructuredconversationswith thePRAPcentralteamandsomeHomeOffice representativesaboutbuildingmore permanentstructuresforongoingscrutinyof anti-racismworkinpolicing.Wehave observedandparticipatedinworkshopsand conferencesthathavebeensupportedbythe PRAPcentralteamandaconferenceinMay 2025,ledbycivilsocietyorganisations themselves.

ThePRAPcentralteamhasalsoconsistently committedtocirculatingadetailedmonthly newsletterprovidingupdatesaboutnational andlocalworkwhichhaseitherbeendriven bythePRAPcentralteam,localraceaction planteamsormorebroadlyconnectedwith theanti-racismgoalsofPRAPPRAPhasalso publishedconsultationandprogressreports inAugust2024,andanupdatereportin March2025. Asaresult,wehaveseenbetter informeddiscussionstakingplacebetween PRAPandexternalbodieswithaninterestin scrutinyofitswork

Whiletheseeffortsmarkgoodprogress,th arejustthestart.

Atthelocallevel,policeforcesmustshow theyareseriousabouttacklingracial disparitiesandworkingwithcommunities waystheyhavenotdonebefore.Nationall policingmustpartnerwithcivilsociety organisationstoco-designrobustsystem scrutinyandaccountability,andstrengthe theformalaccountabilitymechanismstha givethesesystemsweightandlegitimacy Thisincludesensuringoversightisbuiltint inspectionframeworks,nationaldata reportingandindependentmonitoring structures.

"Wehaveplentyofreportsand insights-butwhatweneednow expertsupporttohelpusaddre thebiasthatdriveshuman behaviourandthe disproportionalityweseeacros policing."

- Regional Policy Lead supporting implementation of a local Race Action Plan -

Withoutstrong,co-designedoversight,the commitmentsmadeunderPRAPrisk becomingmeaningless.Recentstepsforward, suchasincreasedcivilsocietyengagement andtheHomeOffice’sgrowingrole,are encouragingButthisprogressremainsfragile Itmustbestrengthened,especiallyattheforce level,towithstandthetransitionahead.

NationalPolceChiesCounclPoceRaceActonPanConsutationReport(August2024)https://wwwnpccpoiceuk/our-work/poice-race-actonpan/poce-race-action-plan-consutation-report/;ProgressReport(August2024)https//wwwnpccpoiceuk/our-work/polce-race-actonpan/poce-race-action-plan---progress-report/;UpdateReport(March2025)https//wwwnpccpolceuk/our-work/poice-race-actionpan/poce-race-action-plan-update-report/

“Thetransformationin

policing’sapproachto raceandracial disparitiesrequires deeper,morehonest engagement,particularly withgroupsthatpolicing hashistoricallyneglected orlabelledas“difficultto reach.”

OnecriticalgroupisyoungBlackpeople.Existing accountabilityandscrutinystructuresin policingarestilldominatedbyolder,white participants Thesespacesmustbediversified Additionally,new,alternativeroutesarealso neededtobettercapturetheconcernsand experiencesofyoungerBlackcommunitiesand assesswhetherthoseexperiencesareshifting.

Understandingandaddressingtheintersectionofageandethnicity

JustforKidsLaw,includingtheChildren’sRightsAllianceforEngland

Itisourpositionthatifracialised childrenarenottreatedasadistinct group,thiswillsignificantlyundermine thecredibilityandimpactofthePRAP.It iscrucialthatboththeanti-racism commitmentandtheMaturityMatrix explicitlyacknowledgetheimportance ofanintersectionalapproachrecognisingthespecificvulnerabilities andexperiencesofracialisedchildrenin policing.

Ourviewsonwhyitisimportantthat childrenshouldbetreateddistinctlyare setoutbelow:

Uniquevulnerabilitiesof children

TheUNCommitteeontheRightsofthe Child(CRC)makesclearthatchildren mustbetreateddifferentlybecauseof theiruniquesituation-theyhave distinctvulnerabilities,greater developmentalneedsandevolving capacities.This,whencombinedwith therealityofapowerimbalance betweenchildrenandadults,means theymustbetreateddifferentlywhen theycomeintocontactwiththepolice andcriminaljusticesystem.

Inparticular thePlanmustdemonstrate howitistakingforwardthe recommendationsrelatingtopolicing, racialdiscrimination andthetreatmentof childrenandyoungpeoplefromracially minoritisedcommunities.GiventheUK’s humanrightsobligationstochildren we believeaChildRightsImpactAssessment (CRIA)shouldbecarriedoutonthePRAP proposalssotheyareeffectiveinrelation tochildren.

CRIAsareanessentialtooltohelpensure policiesandplanssystematicallyand thoroughlyconsiderchildren.The DepartmentforEducationhasdevelopeda templateforofficialstocarryoutaCRIAin partnershipwiththeCRCActionGroup, whichisco-chairedbytheChildren’sRights AllianceforEngland(CRAE),andwewould behappytosharethiswithPRAPcolleagues.

Disproportionatecriminalisation facedbyracialisedchildren

Therecontinuestobesignificantracial disparityinrelationtochildren’s interactionwiththepolice withtensions andlackoftrustexacerbatedinrecent years.Racistnarrativesof‘aggression’and ‘propensitytoviolence’followBlack childrenthroughoutthesystemswith whichtheyengage.

Preventinglong-termdamageto children’slivesandtrustinpolicing Involvementwiththepoliceandcriminal justicesystematayoungagecanhavea long-termnegativeimpactonchildrenand youngpeople’slives.PRAPmustmakeclear abouttheimportanceandeffectivenessof divertingchildrenawayfromthecriminal justicesystemratherthanapunitiveresponse Evidenceisclearthatitisthemoreeffectivein preventingreoffendingandensuringall childrencanexperienceafulfillingchildhood andgrowuptomakeapositivecontributionto society Achild-firstapproachminimisesall interactionsbetweenchildrenandcriminal justiceprocessestominimisetraumaand preventthedevelopmentofacriminal identity.11

Tacklingtrustinpolicing

Earlynegativeexperienceswiththepolicecan

Inherrecentreportlookingatchildren’s involvementintheAugust2024riots,the Children’sCommissionerforEnglandfound awidespreadsenseofanimosityamong childrentowardsthepolice,basedon personalbadexperiencesorcommunity distrust. Shesaid:“Thewidespread expressionofhostilitytowardthepolice amongthesechildrenalsohighlightsan urgentneedforchild-centredpolicingthat buildstrustandfosterspositive relationships.”Shefurtheremphasised: “Childrenaredifferenttoadults,andachild mustbeseenassuchfirstandforemost, ratherthanasanoffender,tokeep communitiessafebypreventingand reducingoffendingbehaviour.”

“WebelievePRAPshouldexplicitly alignwithrecent recommendationsfromUNhuman rightsbodies,particularlythe ConcludingObservationsoftheUN CommitteeontheEliminationof RacialDiscrimination(CERD)and theCRC.”

Consequently,Blackchildrenareoften, construedasriskstothepublicand communityand,notbeingaffordedthe notionofinnocenceduetoperceptionsof beingolderand,therefore,more responsiblefortheiractions Thisisknown asadultificationbias-anowwidely acceptednotion

ofBlackchildren andteenagerssad theytrustthepolice tousestopand searchfary

ofBackchidrenand teenagerssaidknowing polcearestopping andsearchingpeoplein theirareamadethem feesafer

Lackofawarenessofchild-first principleacrosspoliceforces

TheChildren’sCommissioner’sreport demonstratesthepatchytakeupof ‘child-first’or‘childcentred’principlesby policeforcesacrossthecountry.Onlya fewoftheYouthJusticeService(YJS) teamssaidthatthepoliceworkedwith themtoensureachild-firstapproach YJS staffreportedthatwhetherachild-first responsewasadoptedvarieddepending ontheirlocalpoliceforce PRAPpresentsa criticalopportunitytoembedthis principleacrosspolicingnationally

ofWhtechildren andteenagers

Policingcanalsotreatgroupsthatquestion thelegitimacyoftheinstitution, i thoseadvocatingtodefundora policeasoff-limitsforengagem continuestolimitthebreadthan PRAP’sengagementwork.

Foranti-racismworktohaverea itmustbeabletohearfromthos alreadyagreewithitspremise.E cannotbeconfinedtothosealre workwithinexistingstructures.F includedissentingvoicesrisksre veryexclusionPRAPismeantto

TheRunnymedeTrust,aleading think-tankonraceequalityand intheUK,offersaninstructiveex criticalofUKpolicing,Runnymed theinstitutionalracism,misogyn homophobiadocumentedinco reviews,fromthe1981ScarmanR 2023CaseyReport.Itsframingo historicallyandstructurallyracis uncomfortablebutnecessary

Yetdespitethiscritique,Runnym valueinaspectsofPRAP.Specific highlightWorkstream4:Protecti Communitiesasanopportunity alternativestotraditionalpolicin community-basedharmpreven non-punitiveinterventions,and structuralsolutions

ThefactthatthePRAPcentralte engagementwithRunnymeded animportanttruth:stakeholders criticalofpolicingcanstillengag programmeslikePRAPifgiventh soauthentically.Criticismdoesn justifydisengagementwiththem Infact,someofthemostinsight contributionstoaccountabilityw thosewhoarescepticalofwheth everbetrulyanti-racist.

Tosucceed,policingmust thisdiscomfort.Thatmean creatingspacenotonlyfor collaboration,butforchall fromgroupswhosevery engagementmaylooklike resistance.

PRAPandthePoliticsofLegitimacy

TheRunnymedeTrustonWhyAnti-RacismRequiresMoreThanTrustandConfidence

Overthelast50years,aseriesof high-profilereportshaveexposedthe harmsandfailuresofpolicing.Fromthe 1981ScarmanReporttothe2023 BaronessCaseyReview racism,and latermisogynyandhomophobia,have beenfoundtobeentrenchedintheUKs largestpoliceforce-theMetropolitan Police Itiswidelyacceptedthatthese findingsarelimitedtotheMetropolitan police,andareinstitutionalinpolice forcesaroundthecountry.

Whenweconsiderthehistoryofpolicing, thesefindingsareunsurprising Beginningasaseriesofpolicing experimentsinBritainanditscolonies,in 1798,theThamesRiverPolicewerethe firststate-adoptedandfundedpolice force.Theywerea public-privatepartnershipbetweenthe WestIndiaCommittee(alobbygroupof slaveowners)andtheHomeOffice,and assignedtoprotecttheprofitsofslavery, todisciplinetheworkingclass andto protectcolonialismandcapitalism.

“Comparedtotheirwhite counterparts,Blackpeople are3.7timesaslikelytobe stoppedandsearchedand 3.2timesaslikelytobe subjecttouseofforce,and Blackchildrenare6.5times morelikelytobestrip searched.”14

Whichraisesthequestion-canpolicingever becomeanti-racist?We’vewitnessedmultiple attemptstoreformpolicingintheUK,including theamendmentofthe1976RaceRelationsAct tomakepublicinstitutions,includingthepolice, liableforactsofracialdiscrimination.Clearly,we havenotgonefarenough

Progressishamperedbyatendencytoeither denytheexistenceofinstitutionalracismorto respondwithindividualisticmeasures-thisis,in otherwords the‘badapples’argumentwhich wewhollyreject.Institutionalracismis concernedwithracistprocessesandpoliciesby design,andcannotbeunravelledwithlight touchreforms Inthissense,racismhasalwaysbeen embeddedintotheveryessenceof policingasaninstitutionandasa practice Today,therecontinuestobe significantracialdisproportionalities.

PRAP’svisiontocreateananti-racistpolice serviceisbyallmeanslaudable.Butreducing harmandcriminalisedbehaviourshouldbeits ultimategoal-itsfocusonimprovingtrustand confidenceassumespolicingpracticesare legitimate.Instead,weshouldbefollowingthe evidencebasethatdismissesdiversityinitiatives aseffectiveinreducingraciallydisproportionate outcomes,andrepeatedlyshowsthatthepolice andpunitivemeasuresarenotthebestwayto preventharmanddisorder.

Workstream4,SafetyandVictimisation provides agreatopportunitytopushadifferent approach.Insteadofcontinuingtotryandenact reformswhichhavefailedtodelivermeaningful change,werecommendashiftinfocusto non-policingalternativestoharmprevention andmorecommunitybasedformsofsupport andintervention This ofcourse,meansthinking morestructurallytoreversethedriversofharm andcriminalisedbehaviour.

FouryearsonfromtheintroductionofPRAPwe aren’tseeingthescaleofchangerequired.We recognisethatthepolicedonotholdfull responsibility-thedeclineinsocialand materialconditionsandtheharmfullegislation beingpushedthroughParliamentisat fundamentaloddswithwhatPRAPshouldbe aimingfor.

Accredtedofficiastatistcs(govuk)StopandsearcharrestsandmentalheathdetentonsAprl2023toMarch2024 https//wwwgovuk/government/statstics/stop-and-search-arrests-and-menta-heath-detentons-march-2024Polceuseofforce statstcsEnglandandWaesApri2023toMarch2024https://wwwgovuk/government/statistcs/polce-use-of-force-statistcs-apri-2023to-march-2024/polce-use-of-force-statstcs-england-and-wales-aprl-2023-to-march-2024#use-of-force-by-personal-characterstcs [bothlnksaccessed11June2025]

“Onlyasocietalreorientation towardscommunityharm preventionwillmakea meaningfuldifferencetothe livesofpeopleofcolour.”

STRENGTHENING FORMAL ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS

STRENGTHENINGFORMAL ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS

HomeOfficeCoordinationofPRAP

Scrutiny

IfPRAPistodelivercredibleaccountability scrutinymustnotonlyworkinprinciple (nationallyconsistentandtransparent)but alsobetrustedinpracticeThattrustcannot bebuiltthroughpolice-ledmechanisms alone.

Effectivescrutinyrequiresmorethan structuralindependence.Itreliesonthe confidenceandactiveparticipationofcivil societyorganisationsandexpertsespecially thoseworkingtocombatracismandhold policingtoaccount

Yetmanyoftheseorganisationshaveraised seriousconcernsabouttakingpartin oversightstructuresthataredesigned, hosted,orfundedbypoliceforces themselvesTheseconcernsinclude:

Ethicalchallenges associatedwith receivingpolicefunding

Disappointmentwiththe qualityandoutcomesof previousconsultations

Thesedynamicsunderminethecredibilityof scrutinyeffortsandriskfurtheralienating communitiesmostaffectedbypolicing practices.

Yetwerecognisethedifficulttruththatthewider systemisnotimmunefromthesechallenges InstitutionssuchastheHomeOffice,HMICFRS, andtheIOPChavethemselvescontributedto theveryharmsPRAPseekstoaddress.

Thismakesthetaskofbuildingcrediblescrutiny evenmoreurgent-andmorecomplex.These bodiesholdnationalpower,buttheylackthe trustofmanyofthecommunitiesmostaffected

Thatiswhyanynationalmechanismcannot simplysitwithintheseinstitutions.Itmustbe designedandledinpartnershipwith independentcivilsocietyorganisationsand subjectmatterexperts,placingtheirleadership atthecentre.

TheHomeOffice,despiteitscontestedrole,holds theauthoritytodriveconsistencyacrossforces. Howeverthatauthoritymustbeexercised differently-byusingitspowertocreatespace fortrulyindependentoversight,notbycontrolling it.Achievingthatbalanceisthetruetestof leadership.

Lastyear,theISOBpubliclycalledonthethen newly-electedGovernmenttotakeresponsibility forPRAP. Wearguedthatsustainablefunding, properaccountability,andalong-termstrategy foranti-racistpolicingcouldnotbeachieved withoutcleargovernmentleadership

Sincethen,wehavehadconversationswithavarietyofstakeholders,includingtheHomeOffice andcivilsocietyorganisationsabouttheprinciplesthatcouldunderpinacredibleand independentnationalscrutinymechanism.Whilethesediscussionsarestilldevelopingtheyhave informedthethinkingreflectedinthisreport.Thefollowingthemeshaveemerged:

IndependentGovernance

Anationaloversightboard madeupofcivilsocietyleaders, relevantexpertscommunity advocates,andotherrelevant stakeholders,operatingatarm’s lengthfrompolicing

Clearengagement standards

Transparentprotocolsforhow organisationsareinvitedto engage,howtheircontributions areused,andhowtheir associationwithscrutinyactivities iscommunicatedpublicly.

DedicatedHomeOfficefundingto ensuretheindependenceofthe mechanismandtofairly compensatecivilsociety organisationsfortheirtimeand expertisewithoutcompromising theirautonomy

Publicaccountability

Regularpublicationofscrutiny outcomes,includingstakeholder feedbackandtheactionstakenin response.Thisshouldbevisibleto thepublic,notjustpolicingor government.

Superficialengagement beingpresentedas meaningfulconsultation

Organisationsbeing publiclyassociatedwith worktheydidnotshape anddonotfullyendorse

Sufficientsafeguards

Topreventthe misrepresentationof stakeholdercontributions.

"Communitygroupscannotbe expectedtosupportpolice reformwithoutproperfundingmeaningfulscrutinymustbe properlyresourced."

Just for Kids Law, including the Children’s Rights Alliance for England

EmbeddingPRAPaccountability intoHMICFRSInspection

Frameworks

Inspectionisaprovenleverforinstitutional action.PRAP’sMaturityMatrixshouldbe includedintheinspectionscarriedoutby HMICFRS.Thiswouldmakeanti-racismpart ofthecorestandardseveryforceisexpected tomeet

AttheNBPA’sconferenceinOctober2024, ISOBChair,AbimbolaJohnson,publiclyraised thiswithHisMajesty’sChiefInspectorof ConstabularyandHisMajesty’sChief InspectorofFire&RescueServices,SirAndy CookeQPMDL.Hesaidhewasopento inspectingoutcomeslikethoseinPRAP,which manypeoplewelcomedasagoodstep forward.

However,thishasnotyetledtoaclear commitment.InMarch2025,SirAndyCooke confirmedthatHMICFRSwouldcontinueto reviewracialdisparitiesthroughexisting inspections,suchasthePEEL(Police Effectiveness,EfficiencyandLegitimacy) frameworkandthematicreviewslikethe2023 Section60super-complaint.Therewasno agreementtofullyincludePRAPortheMaturity MatrixinHMICFRS’formalinspection programme.6

Thisgapbetweenwhatstakeholdershopedfor andHMICFRS’currentpositionneedstobe addressedifPRAPistoachievereal, measurableprogress.Intheshort-term,PRAP datacouldbebetterlinkedtoexisting inspectiontoolssuchasPEELHowever,shorttermfixeswillnotbeenough.

Long-termaccountabilityneedsaclearplan tofullyembedPRAPoutcomesintopolice inspectionstandards.Thiswillrequire leadershipfromtheHomeOffice,workingwith theNPCCandthePRAPcentralteam,tosecure aformalcommitmentfromHMICFRS.

Thisshouldinclude:

Formalrecognition oftheMaturityMatrixasatoolto assessprogressonraceequityin policing

NewPRAP-relatedindicators withinthePEELframeworkorina dedicatedinspectionarea

Considerationofformaldirection fromtheHomeOfficetoensure HMICFRSisrequiredtoprioritisePRAP initsinspections

Turningthisintoactionwillrequireaseriesof practicalsteps,focusedonbuildingtheright relationships,aligningdataandsecuringthe formalcommitmentneededtomakePRAP partofcorepoliceinspections

Thesestepsshouldinclude:

StrategicEngagement withHMICFRS 1

SetupaworkinggroupbetweenPRAP leadership,HMICFRS,andtheHome Officetodefineinspection-ready indicatorsalignedwiththeMaturity Matrix.

Secureclearstatementsofintent fromHMICFRSonhowPRAPoutcomes willbemonitoredthroughinspections, includingtimelinesandscope.

AlignExistingDatawith

PEELFramework

Intheshort-term,mapexistingPRAP datatoPEELinspectionpoints, allowingforpreliminaryscrutiny withinthecurrentframework

Ensureforcesareguidedonhowto reportdatainamannerconsistent withPEELrequirements.

FormaliseHMICFRSMandate viaMinisterialDirection(if necessary)

Ifvoluntaryalignmentproves insufficient,considertheuseofa formaldirectivefromtheHomeOffice mandatingHMICFRStoincludePRAP inspectionwithinitsstatutory functions.

Explorelegalandpolicyoptionsto supportthisdirective,ensuringit alignswithHMICFRS’independence andpublicaccountabilitystandards.

Communicatewith Stakeholders

Provideregularupdatestocivil societyandoversightbodiesonthe progressofthesediscussions.

EnsuretransparencyinhowPRAP outcomesarebeingincorporated intoinspectionmechanismsto maintainstakeholdertrust

Reviewandadaptthe MaturityMatrix

Asinspectionalignmentprogresses, refinetheMaturityMatrixtoensureits indicatorsaremeasurableand outcome-focused.

NatonaPoiceChefsCouncl(NPCC),PolceRaceActionPanUpdateReport(March2025) https//wwwnpccpolceuk/SysSteAssets/media/downoads/our-work/race-acton-pan/poice-race-action-plan-update-reportpdf [accessed30May2025]

LOCAL AND NATIONAL SCRUTINY IN PRACTICE

LOCALANDNATIONAL SCRUTINYINPRACTICE

Communityengagementatforce level

TheCollegeofPolicinghasdeveloped guidanceontransparencyandengagement, whichisnowexpectedtobepublishedin early2026alongsidetherevisedstopand searchAPPwhichwediscussinfurtherdetail laterinthisreportAtthepointofpublication, theguidancewillbeafullyearoverdue leavingaprolongedvacuumatatimewhen clearexpectationsarecritical

SincethisisPRAPsfinalyear,itwouldhave benefitedforcestohavereceivedandstarted implementingthisguidanceearlierDoingso couldhavemaximiseditsimpactand ensuredasmoothertransition.Whenitis eventuallypublished,itsadoptioncannotbe optionalEverypoliceforcemustdemonstrate howtheguidanceisbeingtranslatedinto meaningful,measurablechangeThiswillbe akeypieceofworkwiththepotentialto shapehowtransparencyandengagement areembeddedacrosspolicing.

Whilecommunityrelationshipsareprimarily theresponsibilityoflocalpolicing,thePRAP centralteamhasavitalroletoplayin supportingthiswork.Itshouldactasa strategicenablerprovidingconsistent guidancesharinglearning,andamplifying communityvoicesacrossthesystem.

Theteamcanhelpensurenationalportfolio leads,includingtheNPCC’sLocalPolicing CoordinationCommittee,arefullybriefedon PRAP’sengagementworkandthebarriersit hasfaced. Forcesacrossthecountryoften encountersimilarchallengesinbuildingtrust Bycollatingthesecommonissuesand sharingexamplesofwhathasworked elsewhere,thecentralteamcanpromote morecoordinated,effectiveaction.

AlthoughTheCollegeofPolicing’sPracticeBank wasintendedtoservethisfunction,itremains underused. Thecentralteamcanbridgethis gapbycollectinglearningfromstronglocal initiativesandsharingitthroughproactive support,notjustpassiverepositories.

Theteamisalsowellplacedtoidentifyrecurring themesfromcommunitiesandreflectthat feedbacktoforceswhiledirectingthemto solutions

Intheyearahead,thecentralteamshould prioritiseitsroleasconnectorstandard-setter, andadvocate,embeddingmeaningful communityengagementacrossalllevelsof policing.

TheroleoftheNationalCommunity ReferenceGroup(NCRG)

EstablishedinMarch2024theNCRGwas createdtoprovideindependentadviceandlived experiencetoPRAPandbroadernational policingefforts.Itsformationwasintendedto bringcriticalvoicesparticularlyfromBlack communitiesintopolicingdiscussionsata nationallevel

TheNCRGbringstogetherindividualsfroma widerangeofbackgrounds,includinglawyers communityleaders,communicationsspecialists, academics,andcurrentandformerpolice officersandstaff.

Wehavebeeninformedthatsinceitsinception, theNCRGhasbeenconsultedonseveralkey andsensitiveissues,including:

Force-levelperformanceanddelaysinthe deliveryofPRAP

Lackofdefinedobjectives

Thegroup’sactualinfluenceonoutcomes remainsunclearItsmembershipisnot publishedandtherearenovisiblereporting structuresorpublishedoutputslinkedtoits work.Severalchallengesimpedeits effectiveness: Thegroupoperateswithoutcleargoalsor benchmarks,makingitdifficulttomeasureits success

Unclearimpact

ThepoliceshootingofChrisKaba

The2024far-rightriots

Theroleofcivilsocietyandyoungpeople inpolicescrutiny

Limitedtransparency

Therearecurrentlynomechanismsforthe publicorcommunitiestoassesswhatthe NCRGisdoingorhowitisinfluencingchange Theabsenceoftransparentevaluation processesrisksdiminishingthegroup’s credibility

Perceptionrisk

Withoutvisibilityandclearoutcomes,the NCRGmaybeseenasasymbolicbody lackingrealinfluenceoraccountability

Thereisstilluncertaintyabout thelong-termroleand purposeoftheNCRG.Thisis particularlyconcerning,as strongandvisiblecommunity engagementisessentialtothe credibilityandimpactofPRAP.

Withtherightinvestmentandclearer direction,theNCRGhasthepotentialtoplaya muchstrongerroleToachievethisthe followingactionsarerecommended:

Defineclearobjectives:

Establishmeasurablegoalsandsuccess indicators

Demonstrateimpact:

Regularlycommunicateoutcomesand contributionstonationalpolicingefforts

Ensuretransparency:

Developandpublishevaluationframeworksfor publicaccountability

Buildtrust:

Engagemeaningfullyandconsistentlywiththe communitiesitismeanttorepresent

Strengthenleadership:

Maintainadequateresourcingandleadership capacitytodrivestrategicprogress

PARTC

WORKSTREAM 1: CULTURE AND WORKFORCE

Creatingapoliceservicethatreflectsand respectsthecommunitiesitservesisnotjust amatterofrepresentation.Itisessentialto rebuildingtrustWorkstream1aimsto improvetherecruitmentretentionand progressionofBlackofficersandstaff,while challengingtheculturesthathaveallowed racism,misogyny,andotherformsof discriminationtotakeroot

Yettherealityisthatpolicingstillfallsshort.

Whilewerecognisethescaleandambitionof thisworkstream,theoverallpaceand consistencyofthisworkhavebeenuneven. AcrosseverypartofWorkstream1,wesee commonchallengesthatrisklimitingitsimpact: Keyactionshaveslowedorstalled Resourcepressuresareareality,butthey cannotexcuseweakprioritisation,gapsin leadership,orpoorplanning

PROGRESSAGAINSTPRAP ACTIONS

1 2

Recruitmentand progression

ofthepoliceworkforcein EnglandandWalesisBlack afigurethathasbarelyshiftedin morethanadecade 19

Blackpeoplemakeup4%ofthepopulationof EnglandandWales.20

High-profilecasesofpolicemisconducthave exposedaculturethattoooftenprotects harmfulbehavioursinsteadofrootingthem out.Nationalrecommendations(including theBaronessCaseyReview,theAngiolini Inquiry,andtheMacphersonReport)have madeitclearthatchangemustgodeeper, witheveryforcecommittingtobecome activelyanti-racist,anti-misogynistic,and anti-discriminatoryinbothwordsandaction. Workstream1ismeanttohelpmakethatshift areality.

Weakaccountability Delaysandinertia

Measurementandimpact

Currently,thereisnoclearwayto measurewhetheranyofthisisworking. WithoutputtingtheMaturityMatrixinto practiceprogressrisksbecominga paperexerciseratherthanrealcultural change Whenprogressstalls,NPCCportfolio leadsarenotalwaysheldtoaccount Strongergovernanceisneededto challengeinactionandkeepdeliveryon track.

Below,weprovideanassessmentofthespecific actions,notingbothprogressandcriticalareas thatrequirefurtherattentiontoensure Workstream1candeliveronitsstatedaims.

GOVUK,PoiceWorkforceEngandandWaes31March2024https://wwwgovuk/government/statistcs/poice-workforce-england-and-waes-31march-2024/polce-workforce-engand-and-wales-31-march-2024#chapter8[accessed6June2025]

Policing’srelationshipwithBlackcommunities isshapedbyalonganddifficulthistory Recognisingthathistory-andlearningfromit -shouldbeafoundationforculturalchange. TheCollegeofPolicinghastakenpositive stepsbycreating21dedicatedlearning modulesonBlackhistoryThesearenow availabletoallforcesthroughCollegeLearn,a policinglearningplatformintroducedin2021. Thesemodulesappropriatelycontextualise thehistoricalrelationshipbetweenthepolice andBlackcommunitiesHowever,two significantissueshavebeenidentified:

Noclarityonwhothelearningisfor.Itis notclearwhetherthesemodulesare aimedatnewrecruits,frontlineofficers, seniorleadersorthewiderworkforce Withoutthisclarity,itisimpossibletoknow whethertherightpeoplearetakingpartor whetherthelearningisbeingputinto practice

Noevidenceofimpact.Thereisnodata showinghowwidelythesemodulesare beingusedorwhethertheyarechanging attitudesandbehaviours.Thismakesit impossibletojudgewhetherthelearningis makinganyrealdifferenceinforces

PRAPandTheCollegeofPolicingmustset clearexpectationsaboutwhoshould completethislearningandwhyForcesmust alsoberequiredtomonitoruptakeandshare evidenceofimpactusingtheMaturityMatrix toassesswhetherthelearningisdriving meaningfulculturalchange

Ifpolicingcannotrecruit,retain,andpromote Blacktalent,itcannotclaimtobefairor representative.Recognisingthis,thePlan commitstoimprovingnotonlyrecruitmentbut alsoretentionandprogression,keyfactorsin buildingadiverseandresilientworkforce.

“Thedatashowsthatifyouare white,youaremorelikelyto passthesergeantsand inspectorsexamthanBlack colleagues.Wehavetakenthis asfaraswecanlocally.Wenow neednationalleadershipto reviewthesystemanddrive change."

-RegionalPolicyLeadsupporting implementationofalocalRace ActionPlan-

Acataloguecontainingthenationalstandard forrecruitmentretentionandprogressionhas beendevelopedbyTheCollegeofPolicingand sharedwithforcesinSeptember2024Itaimsto provideforceswithaconsistentframeworkto improvediversityandforthefirsttime,startsto addresstheintersectionalbarriersfacedby Blackwomeninpolicing

Sincethecataloguewasonlypublishedin September2024thereisunderstandably limitedevidenceofimpactatthisstageItwill likelytakeseveralyearstofullyassessthe outcomesofthisworkmakingitessentialfor forcestoprioritiseandconsistentlyapplythe standardsfromtheoutset.

Tosupportmeaningfulevaluationinthe future,implementationmustnowbecomethe centralfocus.TheMaturityMatrixhasa criticalroletoplayhereItshouldtrack whetherforcesareawareofthestandards andhowtheyareembeddingthemin practice,layingthegroundworkforacredible assessmentofimpactovertime.

EthnicityPayGap Reporting

Ethnicitypaygapreportingmeasuresthe differenceinaveragepaybetweenminority ethnicandwhitestaffWhilenotyetalegal requirement,ithasbeenthesubjectof nationaldebateforseveralyearsasakeytool forexposingandaddressingstructural inequalitiesintheworkplace.InMarch2025 theGovernmentlaunchedaconsultationon proposalstointroducemandatoryethnicity paygapreportingforlargeemployers. This marksasignificantstepforward,butaction remainsvoluntaryfornow.

Inpolicing,paygapsoftenreflectstructural inequalities,suchastheunderrepresentation ofminorityethnicofficersinseniorroles, shorteraverageservicelengthsorbiasin performanceevaluations.

Forexample,intheBritish TransportPolice’s2023ethnicity paygapreport,itsanalysis foundthatBlackcolleagues werelesslikelytoreceiveatop markandmorelikelytobe assessedasapoorperformer.22

In2022,PRAPputforwardaproposaltotheChief Constables’Councilforallforcestoadopt ethnicitypaygapreportingbythe2023to2024 financialyear,aimingtodrivegreater consistencyandtransparencyacrossthe service.AsofJune2025,wecanseeevidenceof 10outof43forcespublishingthisdata This fallsshortoftheoriginalambitionandthereis anurgentneedtoincreasepublicationrates.

Growinginterestfromthegovernmentisa welcomedevelopmentbecausesuchhighlevelattentionmaybenecessarytoensure fullcomplianceacrossallforces

Whilepublishingdataisapositivestep,its valuedependsonwhatisdonewithit.There islimitedinformationastowhetherpaygaps arenarrowingorwhetherleadersaretaking meaningfulactioninresponseAllforces shouldbeexpectedtopublishclearaction plansalongsidetheirdata,withregularpublic updatesonwhathaschangedinpractice. TheMaturityMatrixshouldreflectthisby trackingwhetherdataispublishedandhowit isbeingusedtodrivemeasurablechange.

4 BlackWorkforceSurvey

TheBlackWorkforceSurveyisoneofthefew toolsthatcapturesthelivedexperienceofBlack officersandstaffacrosspolicing.Previous surveyshaveexposedpersistentinequalities withmanyrespondentsreportingfeelingsof exclusion,theneedtoworkharderthantheir whitepeersforthesamerecognition,and seriousconsiderationofleavingpolicingdueto discriminationandlackofsupport. Thismakes thecontinuationandexpansionofthesurvey vitaltounderstandingwhetherpolicingis becomingasaferandfairerplaceforBlack peoplewhoservewithinit.

Aftersignificantdelaysthemostrecentsurvey wasfinallylaunchedinMarch2025Thereis stillnoequivalentsurveythatcapturesthe viewsofthewider(non-Black)police workforce,makingitdifficulttocompare experiencesortrackdisparitiesacross differentgroupsonexperiencesand institutionalculture

5 Hatecrimesagainst BlackOfficers

PRAPmusturgentlyappointaseniorNPCClead. ThereareanumberofChiefswhohaveportfolio areasthatcrossoverwithhatecrimethatcould potentiallytakeonthisworkevenonaninterim basis.Whomeverdoesshouldconsider prioritisingthecreationofanationaltimetable, andsettingouthowforceswillbeheldto accountforprotectingtheirownworkforcefrom race-basedhate

Misconduct,discipline

andvetting

Tacklingracialdisparitiesinmisconduct, discipline,andvettingiscriticaltobuilding fairnessandtrustinpolicing.Thesesystemsare meanttoprotectpolicingfromwrongdoing,but whentheyreinforcebiasorareweaponised againstBlackofficers,theydeepeninjusticeand damagecredibilityForexample,theBaroness CaseyReviewintotheMetropolitanPolice ServicerevealedthatBlackofficersare81% morelikelytofacemisconductproceedings comparedtotheirwhitecolleagues. Without urgentreformthesedisparitieswillcontinueto erodeconfidence-bothwithintheserviceand amongthecommunitiespolicingexiststoserve.

Itistherefore,commendablethatmore policeforceshavebegunpublishingtheir ethnicitypaygapdata.Somehavepublished ethnicitypaygapdataforseveralyearswith theMetropolitanPolicereportingsince2017 andtheBritishTransportPolicereporting since2022. BritshTransportPoiceAuthorty(BTPA)EthnicityPayGapReport2023(Aprl2024)https//btpapoiceuk/wp-content/upoads/2024/04/BTPEthnicity-Pay-Gap-Report-2023-ncudng-Chefs-Foreword securepdf[accessed6June2025]

Policing’scredibilityisunderminedwhenitfails toprotectitsownpeople.EffortsbyPRAPto addressrace-basedhatecrimesagainst BlackofficershavestalledsinceMay2024.The previousleadforhatecrimehasnotbeen replacedmeaningthereisnodedicated nationalleadtopushChiefConstablesto agreeandpursueasetofactionstotacklethe issue.ThissendsthewrongmessagetoBlack officersandstaffwhocontinuetofaceracism inthelineofdutywithoutadequate institutionalbacking

Despitebeingacoreactioninthisworkstream, progresshasstalledPRAPhasnotsecured meaningfulactionfromNPCCleads,andthere hasbeennovisibleworktoinvestigateor addresstheracialdisparitiesinvettingand misconductoutcomesThisrisksconfidencein thePRAPprogrammeamongBlackandminority ethnicofficers.NPCCleadsmusttake meaningfulandvisibleownershipofthese matters,particularlygiventheirsignificanceto theirworkforce.

GOVUK,Equaity(RaceandDsabiity)Bl:mandatoryethnctyanddsabitypaygapreporting(2025) https//wwwgovuk/government/consultatons/equalty-race-and-disablty-bl-mandatory-ethncty-and-dsabity-pay-gap-reporting[accessed 20May2025]

NatonaPoiceChefsCounci(NPCC)FindngsfromourBlackWorkforceSurvey:Wave2(2024) https//wwwnpccpolceuk/SysSteAssets/media/downoads/publcations/pubcations-log/workforce/2024/fndings-from-our-back-workforcesurvey-wave-2pdf[accessed20May2025]

Leadinginclusiveteams

Frontlineleadershipisoneofthemost powerfulleversforchangingofficerbehaviour andimprovingcommunitytrust.

Yet,asnotedearlierinthisreport,theNBPA withdrewitssupportforPRAPbetwe andNovember2024,citingalackof resourcesasoneofthekeyreasons

26 Thedecisiontopilotthisworkbeforescaling nationallyistherightonebuttheimpactof thepilotmustbeproperlyevaluated.The CollegeofPolicingledtheevaluationandwe raisedconcernsaboutindependence.The CollegehasstatedthatallCollege researchersinvolvedaremembersofthe GovernmentSocialResearchprofession whichrequiresobjectivityandimpartiality andfurtherthatthereportwillbe independentlypeerreviewed.Ifthepilot proveseffectivepolicingleadersmust committofullyresourcinganddeliveringa nationalrollout,ensuringeverysupervisorhas thetoolsandconfidencetoleadcultural changeinpractice.

InitsJuly2024ProgressReport,PRA newguidanceforchiefofficerstohe andstaffaccesslocalBPAsandRac Networks.However,thisfallsfarsho originalambition.Issuingguidance accesstolocalgroupsisnotthesa resourcingparticipationorenabling influenceThesamereferenceappe PRAP’sMarch2025updatereport,ra questionsaboutwhat,ifany,further hasbeenmade.

TheNBPAhasalsoreportedadeclin foritslocalnetworksinrecentyears lackoftransparencyinthisareaPo notprovidepubliclyavailabledata force-levelaccessorinvestmentin structures;nordoesitappeartoha consistentstandardforassociation networkstomeetinordertoqualify resourcingThisopacitycreatesunc keyorganisationssuchasBPAs.The involvementofpartnersliketheNBP raceequalitynetworksiskeytoPRA Properresourcingisvital

In2022,theNPCCcommittedtoidentifying ”whatadditionalsupportisrequiredtoenable BPAsandRaceEqualityNetworkstoprovide strategicadvicetochiefofficerteams, bespokewelfaresupporttomembersand enhancecommunityengagement”27

26 theCollegeintroduceda‘LeadingInclusive Teams’pilotinDecember2024aimedat empoweringsupervisorstoleadcultural change ItisnowunderwayinStaffordshire GwentandSurrey,withresultsexpectedin early2026.

ColegeofPolcngLeadngncusveTeamsEvaluaton(nd)https://wwwcolegepolceuk/research/projects/eadng-incusive-tea [accessed23May2025]

TheNBPAonrebuildingtrustandpower-sharinginPRAP

TheNBPAExecutiveCommittee

TheNBPAhasbeenakeystakeholderin thedevelopmentofPRAP,bringing decadesofexperience,insight,andlived realitytothetable.Ourengagementhas alwaysbeenprincipled-wehave supportedtheambitionofPRAPbut remainedclear-eyedaboutits limitations

Disappointingly,ratherthanwitnessing improvements,weareseeinga worseningenvironmentforBlackand ethnicminorityofficersandstaff, alongsidepersistentracialdisparitiesin policingoutcomes.Theplanhastoo oftenbecomeacomplianceexercise ratherthanacatalystforculturaland systemictransformation

Wehavealsoobservedwithconcernthat someChiefConstablesremainresistant toPRAPsaims,hidingbehindablanket endorsementfromtheNPCCwhilefailing todeliverrealactionintheirown organisations Thislackofleadership courageunderminestheintegrityofthe plan Furthermore thereremainsacritical gapinlocalaccountabilitystructurestoooften,localscrutinyiseitherabsent, toothless ordisconnectedfromthose withlivedexperience.Thatmustbe addressedinthelongertermifweare seriousaboutembeddinglastingchange.

Tosupportthis,theNBPArecommendsthe immediateestablishmentofapublic-facing dataset,co-designedandagreeduponby stakeholders,againstwhichallforcescanbe transparentlyinspected

Wearealsocallingforareconfigurationof theISOB.Onethatwidensitsremitand representation.Scrutinymustmovebeyond internalprocessesandincludeanewbody housedwithintheHomeOffice,whichbrings togethertheNBPA,civilsociety organisations,andcommunityleadersto ensurepolicingisheldtoaccountbythe peopleitserves.Thiswouldmirrorprocesses developedafterthereportintotheracist murderofStephenLawrencebyLord Macphersonandprovideinternaland externalscrutiny,accountabilityand advocacy.

Inaddition,theNBPAstronglyrecommends thattheMetropolitanPolice’sLondonRace ActionPlanbeseparatedandmadedistinct fromthenationalPRAP TheMetropolitan Police’sculturalchallengesarebothextreme andrelativelyunique,anditsapproachto raceequalityhastoooftenactedasa blockagetonationalprogress.Abespoke, high-scrutinyframeworkforLondonis essential,onethatreflectsthescaleofharm, lackoftrust andhistoricfailuretoact-soit nolongerunderminesreformeffortsacross therestoftheUK.

Thecurrentpolicingenvironmenthasnotonly failedtoimprove—ithasbecomeincreasingly hostile DuringthelifetimeofPRAP wehave heardappallingreportsfromourmembers: bananasleftondesksasracistmessages, officersreceivingreflectivepractice-not formalsanctions-forusingthe N word,anda growingnormalisationofdiscriminatory behaviour.Behindtheseincidentsarereal people,notjuststatistics Wehavesupported colleagueswhohaveconsideredendingtheir ownlivesduetotheorganisation’sfailureto protectthemortakeracismseriously.These arenotisolatedanecdotes-theyare symptomsofadeeperinstitutional complacency,andtheymustserveasa wake-upcalltoeveryoneinleadership

Thereisaclearanddangerousgapincurrent provisions.NeitherthePoliceFederationnor thePoliceSuperintendentAssociationis equippedormandatedtorespondtothe specificneeds,risks,andlivedexperiencesof Blackofficersandstaff TheNBPAislefttrying tofillthatvoidwithlimitedresourcesand limitedformalrecognition

“Ourlong-termvisionisrooted inthesameethosthatledtoour formation:apolicingservice thatlistens,reflects,andactsnotjustforpublicrelations,but forequalityandjustice.A servicewhereBlackofficersare safetoserve,andBlack communitiesaretreatedwith dignityandrespect.Toreach thatgoal,theNBPAmustbe empowerednotasa stakeholdertoconsult,butasa strategicpartnertoco-deliver. Anythinglessisacontinuation ofthesilence,avoidance,and harmthatPRAPwasmeantto end.”

“PRAP’slegacymustbemorethan well-intentionedcommitments.True successwouldseeameasurableshift inhowraceisunderstoodand addressedwithinpolicing-from recruitmentandprogression,to misconductoutcomes,tothe experiencesofthepublic.”

Asanassociation,ourroleisunique.WeSince re-engaging,wehavetakenmeasuredstepsto rebuildtrustandcollaboration.However,we havebeendisappointedbythetepidand at times perfunctoryresponsefromtheNPCCand thePRAPteam.Re-engagementmustbe matchedwithmeaningfulactionandagenuine willingnesstosharepower-notsimplyareturn tothestatusquo InfactwefeelthatPRAPhas becomeabarriertoengagementwithNPCCand TheCollegeofPolicing

Iftheserviceisseriousaboutbuildingtrust, retainingtalent,andtransformingitsculture, thatgapmustbeclosed withurgent investment,structuralsupport,andlegal recognitionoftheNBPAsrole Itis disappointingthatunofficialnetworkswhodo notsupportmemberswithmisconductor discriminationhavebeensupportedbyNPCC ortheirlocalforceswhilsttheNBPAhaveseen theirresourcesdiminishinpotential victimisationforcallingoutwrongdoingand supportingmemberssufferingdiscrimination

WORKSTREAM 2: POWERS AND PROCEDURES

WORKSTREAM2

Workstream2ofPRAPisfocusedonhow policepowersareused,fromvehiclestops andstopandsearchtotaser,strip-search, andarrest.Thesearesomeofthemost visibleandcontestedaspectsofpolicing. Howtheyareappliedhasrealandlasting consequencesforpublictrust.

Thewell-documenteddisproportionateuseof policepowersagainstBlackpeoplehas causeddeepandlastingtraumaItisthe persistentracialdisproportionalityintheuse ofthesepowersthatfuelsmistrustWithout reformhere,PRAPcannotsucceed.Thatiswhy thisworkstreamis,arguably,thelynchpinof PRAP

Followingalongperiodoflimitedprogress, thepastyearhasbroughtanoticeableshift. Asnotedinour2024report,anew WorkstreamLeadhasbroughtgreaterclarity, directionandenergytotheworkstream. Activityhasincreased,datareformshave begun,andnewtrials,fromtraumainformedtrainingtoupdatedbody-worn videoguidance,areshowingpotential

Thereismorestructure,moreconsistency, andmoreengagementthanwehaveseenin previousreportingperiods.Communication betweenthenationalPRAPteamandpartner agencieshasimproved,helpingtolaythe groundworkforsubstantivechange.

Nonethelessseriousconcernsremain. Technologysuchaslivefacialrecognitionis beingrolledoutwithoutPRAPoversightSome scrutinypanelslackindependenceMost importantlythereisstilllittleevidencethatthis workisleadingtobetteroutcomesforBlack communities.

"Weneedanationallymandated frameworktoassesseverypolice force’sstartingpointandprogress onanti-racism,backedby independentinspectionfromabody thatisrepresentativeandexpertin anti-racism,notjustpolicing."

-RegionalPolicyLeadsupporting implementationofalocalRaceAction Plan-

Thischapterreviewsthecurrentstateofdelivery acrossWorkstream2,highlightingboth encouragingdevelopmentsandareasrequiring immediateattention.

PROGRESSAGAINSTPRAP ACTIONS

PublicandPersonalSafety Training

Howofficersaretrainedtohandle confrontationisvital.Itshapeswhether situationsareescalatedorde-escalated, whetherforceisusedproportionately,and whetherthepubliccantrustthatofficerswill actsafelyandfairly.ForBlackcommunities, whoexperiencehigherratesofforceandmore frequentcontactwithpolice,thistrainingcan bethedifferencebetweensafetyandharm

Overthepastyear,TheCollegeofPolicinghas redesignedPublicandPersonalSafety Training(PPST).Thisismandatorytraining providedtopoliceofficers,specialconstables, andpolicestafftoensuretheyareequipped tomanageviolentorpotentiallyviolent situationssafely. Thishasbeenoneofthe morepromisingdevelopmentsunder Workstream2.

Anew,trauma-informedandscenario-based modelforconflictmanagementhasbeen trialledinAvon&Somersetaspartofthiswork

Thereportindicatesareduction of1,200usesofforceacrossboth Blackandwhiteindividuals-an overallreductionof11%.30

Thisisawelcomesignthatalternative approachestoconflictcanreducetheuseof forceoverall

Itisimportanttonotethat,duetosmallsample sizes,thereductioninusesofforceagainstBlack peoplewasnotstatisticallysignificant Nonetheless,thetrialdemonstratespotentialfor widerbenefitespeciallyifforcestrackand implementitwithracialdisparityoutcomes explicitlyinmind

Themodelshowspotentialbutmustnowbe testedatscalewithasharperfocusonrace disparity.Ifpolicingisseriousaboutreducing harm,itmustensurethattrauma-informed trainingisnotjustadoptedbroadly,but assessedspecificallyforitsabilitytoaddress racialdisproportionalityintheuseofforce Effectivecommunicationwithanemphasison de-escalation,isalsocritical.Particularlywhen engagingwithchildrenandyoungpeople.

Vehiclestops:More thanjustSection163

Beingstoppedwhiledrivingisoneofthemost commonwaysthatmembersofthepublic comeintocontactwiththepolice.ForBlack drivers,thatcontactisoftenshapedby suspicion,notsafety.FromRicardodosSantos andBiancaWilliamstothousandsofother unrecordedcases,disproportionatevehicle stopshavebecomeavisiblesymbolof over-policingandracialbiasagainsttheBlack community.

Fordecades,campaignershavecalledfor properdatacollectionontheseencountersA keyrecommendationfromthe1999Stephen LawrenceInquirywasthatforcesshouldcollect andpublishethnicitydataonallvehiclestops.32

Thatrecommendationwasnot actedonformorethan20years.

ColegeofPolcngNewpubicandpersonasafetytrainingintroduced,pubished13August2024https//wwwcolegepoiceuk/artce/new-publcand-personal-safety-tranng-introduced[accessed20May2025]

CoegeofPoicngEvauationofscenaro-basedconlctmanagementtraningpage6(August2024)

https//ibrarycolegepolceuk/docs/coege-of-poicing/Evaluaton-confict-management-trainng-2024pdf[Accessed22May2025]

ColegeofPocngEvaluatonofscenario-basedconfictmanagementtrainngpage52(August2024)

https//ibrarycolegepolceuk/docs/coege-of-poicing/Evaluaton-confict-management-training-2024pdf[Accessed22May2025]

“ThattheHomeSecretary,in consultationwithPoliceServices, shouldensurethatarecordis madebypoliceofficersofall "stops"and"stopsandsearches" madeunderanylegislative provision(notjustthePoliceand CriminalEvidenceAct).

Non-statutoryorsocalled "voluntary"stopsmustalsobe recorded.Therecordistoinclude thereasonforthestop,the outcome,andtheself-defined ethnicidentityoftheperson stopped.Acopyoftherecordshall begiventothepersonstopped.”

-StephenLawrenceInquiry (MacphersonReport), Recommendation61,1999

Researchcontinuestounderlinethevalueof improveddata.InGoneFishing;The OperationofPoliceVehicleStopsinEngland andWales,LiverpoolUniversity,consideredsix yearsofethnographicresearch.Thereport makesastrongcaseforrecordingallvehicle stopchecks,notjustthosethatescalateto searchorenforcement Thisdatacould supportmoreeffectivescrutinyandhighlight patternsofracialdisparity33

ProgressisnowfinallybeingmadeInthe pastyear,PRAPhasworkedwiththeNPCC RoadsPolicingteamtoexpanddata collectionbeyondjustSection163stops. All vehiclestopsarenowexpectedtoinclude demographicdataThePRAPteamhasalso workedwiththeHomeOfficetoestablisha newAnnualDataRequirement(ADR)thatwill makeitmandatoryforallforcestorecord ethnicitydataonvehiclestopsby2026/27.

Earlysignsofadoptionareencouraging.All forcesarenowcollectingatleastsome demographicdata,andtheMetropolitan PolicehascommittedtoaLondon-widerollout fromSeptember2025Thisisasignificant improvementfromlastyear’sreportinwhich wehighlightedconcernsaboutthe MetropolitanPolice’slackofimplementationin thisarea

PRAPhasalsoinitiatedchangestonational policingguidancesothatvehiclestopdata mustbeanalysedforracialdisproportionality andlegitimacy.Thesechangesareexpected tobeembeddedbylate2026.

ThisisanimportantshiftRecordingdataisthe firststeptowardstransparencyand accountability.Buttobuildpublictrust,forces mustalsoexplainhowthisdatawillbeusedto identifyandreduceracialdisparities.The MaturityMatrixmustsetoutclear expectationsforanalysis,publication,and actionThatwaythesereformsleadnotjustto moredatabuttofaireroutcomes.

Technology 3

Technologyplaysagrowingroleinhowpolice powersareused,monitored,and experiencedWhendesignedandapplied fairly,itcanhelpimprovetransparencyand buildtrust.Butwhenleftunchecked,itrisks reinforcingexistingbiasesanddeepening racialdisparities.

Therehasalsobeeninnovation TheCollege ofPolicing’sCoPilottrial,whichusesAIto scrutinisestopandsearchjustifications,has thepotentialtoenhanceinternal accountability-ifguidedbyanti-racist principlesandsubjecttoindependent evaluation.Thetrialisduetostartinautumn 2025acrossseveralforces Acluster randomisedcontrolledtrialwillassessits impactonsupervisoryeffectiveness, productivity,andefficiency,withfindingsdue byMarch2026.

Despitebeingwithinscopeforthis workstream,thereisnoclearstrategyguiding hownewandemergingtechnologiessuchas LiveFacialRecognition(LFR)andAIshouldbe developedusedandmonitoredthroughan anti-racistlens.

LFRinparticularisalreadybeingrolledoutby someforcesdespitelong-standingpublic concernandevidenceofracialbias.For exampleinJune2024legalactionwas launchedbyShaunThompsonaBlack anti-knifecrimeactivistwhowaswrongly flaggedbyLFRanddetainedandquestioned bythepolice.

AnotheroptionispermanentBWVrecordingfor officers.WhilstthishasbeenresistedintheUK, researchfromBrazilshowspositiveresultsin termsofreductionsinuseofforce Toensure consistentadoption,legislativechangemay beneeded,asrelyingonAPPalonemaynotbe sufficienttodrivecompliance.

ToaddressthesegapsPRAPshoulddevelop andpublishaformalanti-racisttechnology strategycoveringtoolslikelivefacial recognitionandAI.PRAPshouldalsocommitto regularindependentimpactassessments,and strengthencomplianceonBWVuseand accurateethnicitydatacollectionThiswill needtobecollectedintheMaturityMatrix

StopandSearch 4

Stopandsearchremainsoneofthemostvisible andcontestedpolicepowersinEnglandand Wales,andoneofthemostdisproportionate Blackpeoplearesignificantlymorelikelytobe stoppedcomparedtotheirwhitepeers.

Overthepastyear,therehasbeenimportant progressUpdatednationalguidanceonBWV nowincludesa30-secondpre-record feature,capturingfootagejustbeforean officeractivatestheircamera.Mostforces haveadoptedthisfeature.Whilenotexplicitly framedasanti-racist,itislikelytobenefit Blackpeoplewhodisproportionately experiencepoliceencounters

33 GOVUKRoadTrafficAct 988Section163(1988)https//wwwlegisationgovuk/ukpga/1988/52/secton/163[accessed20May2025]

GeoffPearsonandMikeRowe GoneFishngTheOperatonofPolceVehicleStopsinEngandandWales’CrimnoogyandCrimnaJustice25 February2023https//doiorg/10177/17488958231155275[accessed21May2025]

35 Meanwhile,whileBWVguidancehas improved,complianceremainsinconsistent Officersdonotalwaysactivatecamerasat keymoments,andethnicitydataisstillnot recordedinfull.Thisunderminesboth transparencyandtheabilitytomonitorfor bias.Itisnotclearwhyofficersfailtorecord ethnicityinsomeinstances,somethingthat couldbesubjectoffutureresearch Technologicaladvancesofferopportunitiesto strengthentheuseofBWV,including automaticactivationlinkedtospecific equipmentsuchastasersorthrough commandandcontrolsystemsthatremotely triggerBWVforallofficersassignedtoan incident.

IntheyeartoMarch2024,themost recentdataavailableatthetime ofreporting,individuals identifyingasBlackBritishwere searchedatarate3.7Xhigherthan thosefromaWhiteethnicgroup.38

Overthepastyear,nationalleadershiponstop andsearchhasimproved.TheNPCC’sStopand SearchLeadandtheircolleaguesarenow workingmorecloselywiththePRAPteamWe havealsoobservedregularmeetingsbetween theWorkstream2coordinatorandNPCC leadershipThenewquarterlyNationalDelivery Grouphasalsocreatedregularspacefor updates,collaboration,andscrutinyPRAPisa standingagendaitem,andISOBisin attendanceattheseupdates.

MatrxChambersChalengetotheMetsUseofLveFaciaRecognitonTechnologyhttps://wwwmatrixawcouk/news/chaenge-to-the-mets-useof-lve-facal-recogntion-technology/[accessed6June2025]

BBCNewsPolceoffcerswidelymsusingbody-worncameras(15September2023)https//wwwbbccouk/news/uk-66809642[accessed30May2025]

In2024,theNPCCdevelopeda‘Planona Page’forstopandsearch,anational frameworktoreduceharmandtackle disparityItidentifieskeyissuesthat disproportionatelyaffectBlackpeople includingadultification,routinehandcuffing, andsafeguardingfailures..

CollegeofPolicinganalysisoftheMillennium CohortStudyontheimpactofbeingstoppedas ateenagerhasbeencompletedwithareport anticipatedlaterin2025Thiswilladdtothe evidencebaseavailabletoguidestopand searchpolicy.41

BritishTransportPolice 5

However,changestoguidanceandlawonly matteriftheyleadtodifferentoutcomes.To datepreviousrevisionshavedonelittleto improvetheexperienceofBlackindividuals Clearaccountabilityisneededtoensurethat anynewstandardsaremeaningfully implementedandevaluated.

39 40

Meanwhilesignificantgapsremaininthe ethnicitydatacollectedonstopandsearch, makingithardertounderstandandaddress racialdisparity Closingthesedatagapsmust beaprioritytotackledisproportionalityinthis area.

Workisalsounderwaytoimprovehowdrug searchesarecategorised,enablingclearerand moremeaningfulanalysis.Thisisessentialgiven thatBlackpeoplearedisproportionately targetedindrugsearches,eventhoughdrug useratesarebroadlysimilaracrossallethnic groups43

disproportionalityandimprovingpractice (alargerversionofthischartisavailableinAppendix1)

GOVUKPoiceandCrminalEvdenceAct1984(PACE)CodeA2023(2023) https//assetspubshingservcegovuk/media/6580275e1c0c2a000d18cee3/PACE+Code+A+2023pdf[accessed20May2025]

40 TheCollegeofPolicing’sstopandsearch guidance,APP,isscheduledtobeupdated andpublishedinearly2026Thisprovidesa furtheropportunitytoembedanti-racism commitmentsinthisareaAlongsidethis, thereisactiveengagementwiththeHome OfficeonapotentialchangetoPACECodeA thatwouldremovethe‘smellofcannabis’as astandalonejustificationforasearch Thisis animportantstep Researchindicatesthat Blackindividualsareoftenstoppednotdueto evidenceofcannabisuse,butbecauseof racialassumptions,suchasbeingperceived assuspiciousfordrivinganexpensivecaror walkingthroughaffluentareasOfficersthen usethesmellofcannabistojustifythestop, evenwhenthatwasnottheoriginalreason.

39 SharonGrace,ChareLloydandGaryPage Whatdscretondoyouneed?Factorsnfuencingpoicedecsion-makngnpossessionofcannabis offences’Crimnoogy&CrminalJustce(25February2023)https//doorg/101177/17488958221142478[accessed21May2025]

42 TheUCLCentreforLongtudnalStudiesMilennumCohortStudyhttps//clsuclacuk/cls-studes/mlennium-cohort-study/[accessed4Juy2025]

[accessed6June2025]

https//wwwreeaseorguk/stes/deault/fes/pdf/publcatons/The%20Colour%20of%20Injustcepdf[accessed30May2025]

Whilenationalprogressonstopandsearch remainsuneven,someforcesareshowing whatispossiblewiththerightleadershipand focus.TheBritishTransportPoliceoffersa strongexampleofhowdatatransparencyand accountabilitycanhelpdrivefairerpolicing,as highlightedintheIOPC’sRaceDiscrimination inPolicingreport.44

BritishTransportPolice’suseofforcereports arescrutinisedinpublicmeetingsofthePolice StandardsandIntegrityCommittee(PSIC) partofitsPoliceAuthorityBoard.These sessionsarelivestreamedonYouTube, offeringararelevelofpublicvisibility.Eachuse offorceisrecordeddigitally,monitoredfor patterns,andreferredtobothPSICandthe IndependentAdvisoryandScrutinyGroupfor review

TheBritishTransportPolicehasalsomade notableprogressinclosingtheethnicitydata gapinstopandsearch Supervisorsnowusea performanceDashboardthattracksindividual officeractivity,includingwhetherthey disproportionatelystopBlackpeopleorhave lowoutcomerates.Thislevelofscrutinyis helpingtheforcetightendatacollectionand addressdisparities.

Nationally,therateof unreportedethnicityinstop andsearchrosefrom5%to 20%between2010and2023, buttheBritishTransportPolice hascutitsowngapfrom30%to 13%injusttwoyears.45

BritishTransportPolice,datacorrectat May2025

(alargerversionofthischartisavailable inAppendix1)

Thiskindoftargetedeffortshouldbeadopted morewidely Forcesshouldberequiredto eliminateethnicitydatagapsanduseThe CollegeofPolicing’sPracticeBanktoreplicate whatworksandavoidwhatdoesnot.

TheMetropolitanPolice 6

Asthelargestforceinthecountry,responsible foroverathirdofallstopandsearchesin EnglandandWales,theMetropolitanPolice playsanoutsizedroleinshapingpublictrustin policing.Itsaction-orinaction-havenational rippleeffects,makingitsleadershiponPRAP essential.

Overthepastyear,theMetropolitanPolicehas shownsignsofimprovedengagementwiththe ISOB CommunicationsfromtheLondonRace ActionPlanteamhavebecomemore consistent,andtheforcehasincreasedits attendanceatmeetingsandevents.Thissignals awelcomeshifttowardopenness.However, questionsremainaboutthesubstancebehind thatengagement.Toooften thefocusappears tobeonactivityratherthanmeaningfulchange

ndependentOffceforPoliceConduct(IOPC)RacedscrimnationinthepoiceAreviewofevdence(2022) https//wwwpoliceconductgovuk/race-discrminaton-report[accessed21May2025]

GOVUKStopandsearch(Ethncityfactsandfgures) astupdated24May2023https://wwwethnicty-facts-figuresservicegovuk/crmejustce-and-the-aw/poicng/stop-and-search/latest/[accessed20May2025]

AcaseinpointistheMetropolitanPolice’s launchofanewStopandSearchCharterin February2025. Theeventwasinvitationonly.Althoughitwasrecorded,theISOB’s requesttomakethefootagepublicwas deniedThislackoftransparencyis disappointing.

TheCharteritselffailstomeaningfully grapplewithracedisparity.Itacknowledges disproportionateuseagainstethnically minoritisedgroupsonlybriefly,before pivotingtosuggestthathighervictimisation ratesamongthosesamegroupsjustify increasedpolicescrutiny.Thisframing glossesovertheroleofinstitutionalracism anddoeslittletoinspireconfidencethatthe Charterwilldriverealchange.

Asimilarpatternemergedatapublictaser awarenesssessioninSeptember2024.While communitymemberswerepresent,the eventfocusedheavilyonjustifyingtaseruse ratherthaninterrogatingitsdisproportionate impactTheopportunityforcriticaldialogue wasmissed.

ISOB’sconcernsdeepenedfurtherduringa March2025visittotheMetropolitanPolice’s CentralUniformScrutinyPanel(CUSP).The structureofthepanelraisesserious questions.Therewerenoindependent LondonresidentspresentAllattendeeswere eitherMetropolitanPoliceofficers,staff,or volunteersrecruitedbytheforce.Thepanel lackedracialdiversityandskewedtoward olderparticipants,failingtoreflectthecityit serves462%ofLondonresidentsidentifyas non-white andthecityhasanotablyhigh concentrationofadultsaged25to34.

48 49

Thescrutinyprocessitselfwaslimited. AttendeesreviewedunredactedBWVin smallgroups,buttheirfeedbackwas restrictedtobinaryoutcomes:passthevideo onwithanote,ortakenofurtheraction.

Theselimitationsechofindings

the2023TASERDresearch,which notedinconsistenciesbetween deploymentandtraining standards. Thedisconnectbet doctrineandreal-worldpractic remainsapressingissue.

IftheMetisseriousaboutrebuildingtrust, mustgofurtherthanselectiveengageme surface-leveltransparency.ISOBrecomm openingCUSPmembershiptovetted, independentLondonresidentsandpublic sharinginformationaboutthepanel’sstru processes,andoutcomesThisisstandard practiceinsomeotherforces.TheMetsho alsocreateadedicatedpublicengageme forumontaserusage,reinstateamorero evaluationframeworkforreviewingBWV footage,andintroduceaformalreferral mechanismtoescalateconcernsidentifie duringtaserscrutiny.TheMetPolicewould benefitfromfollowingtheleadofotherfor suchasAvon&Somerset,whoregularlyp detailedinformationabouttheirscrutiny processfortheuseoftaserandotherpolic powersonline.51

MetropoltanPoiceServceStopandSearchCharter27February2025https//newsmetpolceuk/documents/stop-and-search-charter-dot-p [accessed21May2025]

GOVUKRegonaethnicdversty(Ethnicityfactsandfigures) astupdated10August2023https//wwwethncty-facts-fguresservicegovuk/uk populaton-by-ethncty/natonal-and-regona-popuatons/regional-ethnic-diversity/atest/[accessed22May2025]

49 Thisisastepbackwardsfromearliertraffic-light systemsthatallowedformorenuanced evaluations.Commentsfrompanelmembers includedreferencestoofficersbeing“trigger happy”orusingtasersonindividualswhoposed novisiblethreatYetnoformalreferral mechanismexistedtoescalatetheseconcerns. Thisreflectsbroaderproblemswith accountabilityWeobservedbarriersinCUSP accessingBWVandassociateddata.SomeBWV waswithheldwithoutexplanation.Withoutfull andrepresentativeaccesstoBWVandincident datascrutinyeffortsareunderminedfromthe outset

48 OffceforNatonaStatistcs(ONS)TS007aCensus2021–Agebyfve-yearagebands13January2023 https//wwwonsgovuk/peopepopulatonandcommunity/populationandmgraton/popuationestimates/adhocs/15432ts007acensus2021agebyf aragebands[accessed22May2025]

WeunderstandthattheMetropolitanPolice’s scrutinysystemisundergoingrevisionwhich willshiftownershiptotheMayor’sOfficefor PolicingandCrime(“MOPAC”).Wehopethis willdrivetheMetropolitanPolicetowards deliveringthechangesoutlinedabove.

WealsounderstandthattheMetropolitan Policehasinitiatedinstructionofan anti-racismexperttoreviewitsapproachto theLondonRaceActionPlanandthe“NewMet forLondon”programmes’objectivesof becomingananti-racistorganisationThat instructionisinitsinitialstagesandwelook forwardtoseeinghowthereflectionsare receivedandembedded.

Withoutthesechanges,thereisa riskthattheMetropolitanPolice continuestooverseeitself,with limitedpublicaccountabilityand littleassurancethatpoweris beingusedfairly.

WORKSTREAM3

Workstream3ofPRAPfocusesonstrengthening police-communityengagementasacorepart ofrebuildingtrustanddeliveringonPRAP’s anti-racismcommitments

WhileoriginallytitledCommunity EngagementandRelations,theworkstream waslaterrenamedTrustandReconciliation toreflectthedeeper long-termchallengeof repairingfracturedrelationshipswithBlack communitiesacrossEnglandandWales.

Thischangeinnameandframingtookplace withconsultationHowever,thereisariskthat therationalebehindthechangehasnotbeen fullyunderstoodorreflectedinthe workstream’sdelivery.Clarifyingtheintent behindthisshift,andensuringthe workstreamlivesuptotheambitionimplied byitsnewtitle,willbecriticalintheyear ahead

Overthepastyear,progress hasbeenuneven.Whilethe workstreamhasproduced nationalguidanceand supportedsomestrategic forums,ithasmadelimited headwayinsupportingforces tobuildmeaningful relationshipswithBlack communitiesatalocallevel.

Lookingahead,theworkstreamneedstoshift itsfocusfromsettingoutprinciplesto deliveringpracticalforce-levelaction.Black communitiesexpectmorethandialoguetheyexpecttoseechangeontheground.To achievethis,forcesmustbesupportedwith learninginvestmentandclear accountability.

PROGRESSAGAINSTPRAP ACTIONS

Duringthelastyear,theworkstreamreducedthe scaleofitsplannedactivitiesandfocusedon threeinitiativesasfollows:

1 GuidanceonPolice TransparencyandEngagement

ThePRAPteamandTheCollegeofPolicinghas developednewguidanceonPolice TransparencyandEngagement,adraftofwhich wassharedwithstakeholdersinJanuary2025 forfeedback.

Theprinciplebehindthisworkiswellfounded Howthepoliceengagewith,andareaccountable to,localcommunitiesisfundamentaltothe principleuponwhichBritishpolicingoperatespolicingwithpublicconsent.Itisvitalforthe policetohavetheconsentofalldemographic groupsYetithasbeenseverelyfracturedwhenit comestoBlackcommunitiesacrossthecountry.

However,guidancealonewillnotrebuildtrustifit doesnotreadilytranslateintomeaningful actionThenewguidancerepresentsan opportunityforTheCollegeofPolicingto introducepracticaladviceonhowtoinvolve communitiesinannualmaturityassessments. Fromthefeedbackwehavecollated,internal andexternalstakeholdershaveidentifiedaneed forassistancewith:

Identifyingandsharingexamplesofgood practice particularlyinengagingwithyoung Blackpeople

Showinghowtheyaremakingprogresson anti-racism asmeasuredbythePRAP MaturityMatrix

Demonstratingaccountabilitybyinvolving communitiesinassessingthatprogress

2 Pilotforrestorativejusticeand trauma-informedpractice

Thispilothasfacedsignificantdelaysdueto leadershipchanges,fundinggaps,and recruitmentchallenges Despiteconsiderable effortbytheworkstreamcoordinatorto engageforces,onlyoneforceenrolledand, unfortunatelyduetoissueswithpersonnel changes hadtowithdraw Workisunderway toidentifyareplacementforce.Thelackof uptakeisdisappointing particularlygiventhat thisistheworkstream’ssoleoperationaland practicalintervention.

Itisunclearwhat,ifany,incentiveswere offeredtoencouragemoreforcestovolunteer Wearealsoconcernedthattherehasbeenno discerniblereflectionfromthePRAPteamon whyeffortstoexpandthepilotdidnot succeed,orwhatcouldbelearnedfromthis experience.

Withoutthisreflectionandlearning,thereisa riskthatthispilotbecomesanotherexampleof goodintentionsnottranslatingintowider impact Forfutureinitiatives PRAPneedsto:

Understandandaddressthebarriersthat stopforcesfromsigningup.

Provideclearerincentivesforparticipation.

Sharelearningtransparentlysothatothers canbenefit,evenifthepilotdoesnotscale asintended.

3 CommunityEngagement EvaluationWorkshop

Anationalworkshop,runbyTheCollegeof PolicinginMarch2025,broughttogether around30policeforcestoexplore evidence-basedapproachestocommunity engagement

Thesessionfocusedonhelpingforcesbuild theoriesofchange,identifytheproblemsthey aretryingtosolve,definetheoutcomesthey wanttoachieve,anddevelopclearmetricsto measureimpact,especiallyinrelationtorace andethnicity.

Thesessionincludedapracticalcasestudy fromSouthWales,wherepolicearetesting intensivecommunityengagementinthree disadvantagedneighbourhoods Theproject usestheNeighbourhoodAlertplatformto surveyresidentsbeforeandafterengagement activitiestoassesstheirimpact.

ThiskindoflearningisexactlywhatPRAPshould betrackingandsharingmorewidely.By monitoringwhatcommunityengagement activityishappeningatforcelevel,PRAPcan identifywhatworks,scalegoodpractice,and helpforceslearnfromeachother

WerecommendthePRAP teamcaptureandsharethe lessonsfromthispilot-both thesuccessesandthe challenges-sothatfuture effortstobuildtrustwith communitiescanbestronger andmoreeffective.

WhilethePracticeBank andKnowledgeHub arepromotedastoolstosupportthis,itis unclearhowwidelytheyarebeingused.Since March2023,54communityengagement submissionshavebeenpublishedonthe PracticeBank.Howeverthereisnodataonhow oftentheseresourcesareaccessedorusedin practice.

WeencouragethePRAPteamtoreviewthese platforms,gatheruserfeedback,andpublish dataontheirreachandimpact.Thiswillhelp ensuretheydeliverrealvaluetoforcesand supportbettercommunityengagement acrossthecountry.

Thisworkshopre PRAP’seffortsto evaluationincom

Whileitwasaco areopportunities andstrengthent

Onekeylimitatio communityvoice onlypolicerepre opportunitytoin andexpertswho addedvalueand sharedlearning

Weencourageth CollegeofPolicin andpublishlearn includingexamp practice.

4 Nation Refere

Wehaveprovide role,challenges, NCRGearlierinth focusesspecifica withinWorkstrea

Usingtheirexper livedexperience civilianstakehold forum,providing adviceonPRAP. itsplacementwi tobemoreabou clearstrategy

TheNCRGwascr nationalengage civilsocietyorga doesnotextend forcesengagew locallevel-thec 3.Thismisalignm explained

WORKSTREAM4

Blackcommunitiesexperiencethedouble harmofbeingmorelikelytobevictimsof crimewhilereceivinglessprotectionand justicefrompolicing.

AccordingtoapollbyCrest Advisory

Accordingtoapollby CrestAdvisory

PROGRESSAGAINSTPRAP ACTIONS

1 ProfessionalConversations

ProfessionalConversationsisa12-month mentoringscheme,pilotedfromNovember2023 toNovember2024,pairingwhitechiefofficers (asmentees)withBlackexecutives(as mentors)BackedbyTheCollegeofPolicingand theNPCCthroughPRAP,theschemeaimsto buildmorediversenetworksdeepenchief officers’understandingofBlacklivedexperience, andgiveBlackleadersgreaterinsightinto policing

Wewerealsoconcernedaboutthelackof clarityinthepilot’sobjectivesandthelimited buy-inacrosspolicing.Itsplacementin Workstream4feltmisaligned,andwebelieve itwouldhavebeenbettersuitedto Workstream1(CultureandWorkforce)or Workstream3(TrustandReconciliation)with astrongerleadershipandengagementfocus.

Todeliverrealvalue,anyfutureversionofthis workmustbe:

Clearinitsobjectivesandlevelofimpact

Broaderinitsreach

Strongerinitsevaluationmethods

SafeguardingchildrenfromBlack, Asianandminoritisedethnic communities

ofBlackadultssaidtheydonot believetheyreceivetheservice orprotectionthatneedfromthe police.54

ThisisthegapWorkstream4wascreatedto closeItsetsoutPRAP’scommitmenttobuild apoliceservicethatsafeguardsBlack communitiesandtakestheirsafetyseriously.

Overthepastyear,wehaveseensome progress,includingeffortstoexplorenew approachesandbuildunderstandingof specificissueslikeadultification.However despitesomeactivity,theoverallimpacthas beenlimited.Deliveryhasnotmatchedthe scaleorurgencyofthechallenge,withmost workremainingatthepilotorplanningstage

Thedataneededtodrivemeaningfulaction hasstillnotbeencollected.Thebenchmarks andmetricsneededtotrackprogresshave notbeenestablished.Withoutthesebasicsin place,PRAP’scommitmentrisksbecomingyet anotherpromisewithoutdelivery

TodeliverthechangeBlackcommunities expectanddeserve,Workstream4needs sharperfocus,strongerleadership,andashift fromplanningtodeliveryBelowwereflecton thekeyactivitiesundertakensofar

Thepilotlaunchedwithsixmentoring partnershipsinvolving12participants,usinga highlyselectiverecruitmentmodel.However, duetoschedulingconflicts,participant withdrawals,andtheplanningdemandsofthe scheme,itraninpracticewithjustfouractive pairings.Whiletheselectiverecruitmentstrategy hadmerit,thereducedscalelimitedthe scheme’slearningpotentialandcredibilityasa modelforwiderrollout

Thisriskappearstohavematerialised.Although thepilothasbeencompletedandevaluationis underway,wehavebeeninformedthatitis unlikelytoprogresstoanationalrolloutWhile theevaluationhasnotbeenpublishedthe findingshavebeensharedwiththeISOB.We understandthattheCollegeintendstoadda reportofpilottotheNationalPoliceLibrary.

Effortstocapturelearningthroughreflective diariesfellshort,withmostparticipantsfailingto completethemdespiterepeated encouragement.Westressedthatstructured reflectionisavitalpartofleadership accountability,andfutureversionsmustuse strongermethodssuchasfacilitatedcheck-ins orgroupdebriefs,tocapturemeaningful learning.

Ownedanddrivenbypoliceleadership

Withouttheseimprovements,thereisareal riskthatProfessionalConversationswillbe seenasamissedopportunity,ratherthana meaningfulstepforwardinimproving leadershipengagementwithBlack communities.

2 Adultification

SincethestripsearchofChildQfiveyears ago,theissueofadultificationbias,where Blackchildrenarewronglytreatedasolderor moredangerousthantheyare,hasgained greaterpublicattention55

“Adultificationbiasisaformofbias wherechildrenfromBlack,Asianand minorityethniccommunitiesare perceivedasbeingmore‘streetwise’, more‘grownup’,lessinnocentand lessvulnerablethanotherchildren.

ThisparticularlyaffectsBlack children,whomightbeviewed primarilyasathreatratherthanasa childwhoneedssupport(Davisand Marsh,2020;GeorgetownLawCenter onPovertyandInequality,2019). Childrenwhohavebeenadultified mightalsobeperceivedashaving moreunderstandingoftheiractions andtheconsequencesoftheir actions. "56

NSPCC,2022

“Anyactionplanthatseeksto addressraceinpolicingmust acknowledgehowagecompounds racialbias,leadingtodistinct harmsthatneitherrace-focused norchild-focusedstrategiescan resolvealone.PRAPmustworkto bridgethisgap.”

-JustforKidsLaw includingthe Children’sRightsAllianceforEngland-

dSafeguardingPractceRevew–ChidQ(14March2022) -March-22pdf[accessed20May2025]

ommunites(2022)https//earnngnspccorguk/safeguardng-chidaccessed20May2025]

Howeverunderstandingtheproblemisan initialstepTherealtestwillbewhether policingturnsthisunderstandingintoreal change.Thismeanstakingconcreteactionto:

Identifywhereadultificationoccurs

Interruptharmfulpractices

Embedpreventativeactionsacrossall forces

Engagingkeyorganisationswithexpertisein thisareawillbeparamountatthisstage

Werecommendthefindingsbeformally integratedintotheMaturityMatrixasa markerofprogressonraceequityForces shouldalsobesupportedtotranslatethe findingsintoactionbyembeddingthemin traininganddevelopment,operational policies,andfrontlineguidance.

3 APPGuidance

Overthepastyear,PRAPhassupported effortstoupdateseveralkeyareasofAPP, includingMentalHealth MissingPersons,Hate Crime,andDomesticAbuse.Theseupdates aimtobetterreflecttheexperiencesof vulnerableBlackpeopleandimprovetheway policingrespondstothem.

Howeverratherthanconductingfullreviews andmeaningfulrevisions,theworkfocused onlight-touchupdatesandminortweaks Thiswasexplainedtobeapracticaldecision, basedonthetimeandresourcedemandsof morein-depthrevisionprocesses.

57 TheCollegeofPolicing’srapidevidence assessmentofadultificationinpolicing, launchedinJanuary2024Itisasteptowards addressingthisgapparticularlyinrelationto Blackchildrenfromlow-income backgrounds. Thereview’sfindingsaredue tobepublishedlaterthisyear.

Whileweunderstandthereasoningbehindthis decision,itwasamissedopportunitytoaddress deeper,systemicchallengesandmakemore meaningfulchangesthatcouldstrengthen outcomesforBlackcommunities.

Futurerevisionsmustbeboldermoreinclusive, andmoreambitious.Policingmustbewillingto investthetimeandleadershipneededtomake APPatoolforrealchangenotjusttechnical compliance.Significantlyorganisationswith subjectmatterexpertiseshouldhavemeaningful inputintoanysuchrevisions.

4 Data-drivenapproachesto understandingtheimpactof crimeonBlackcommunities

OneofthekeyaimsofWorkstream4istobuilda betterunderstandingofhowcrimeaffectsBlack communities,usingdatatoidentifypatterns targetresources,andimproveoutcomes However,thishasnotyetbeenachieved.

Poordatacollectionpracticesacrosspolice forcescontinuetoundermineprogressDespite thisbeingraisedinpreviousISOBreportsand flaggedbyHMICFRS,thequalityofethnicitydata remainsinconsistentandincomplete. Without thisdata,itisimpossibletoassesswhetherBlack peoplearebeingadequatelyprotected,orto understandthefullimpactofcrimeonBlack communities.

NPCCanalysis(notyetpublished)indicatesthat forPRAPworkstream4areasalone, thereisa significantdatagaparoundethnicityrecording. Threefiscalyearswererequestedwiththe followinginformationshared:

2018/2019:38.2%missing/notrecorded

2022/2023:40.4%missing/notrecorded

2023/2024:40.4%missing/notrecorded

ColegeofPolcngAdultfication:EvdenceRevew(nd)https//wwwcoegepoiceuk/research/projects/adutifcaton-evidence-review[accessed 20May2025]

disparty-n-poice-crimna-ustce-decson-makng/[accessed20May2025]

“Itiscrucialthatmoreeasily accessibledataisconsistently availableacrossdifferentusesof policepowers.Combineddatais vitaltoevaluatewhetherreforms arehavingatangibleimpact amongstspecificgroupsofchildren. Datamustbedisaggregatedbyage andethnicitycharacteristics combined,andotherrelevant factors,namely,gender,SENDand mentalhealth,andthesemustbe publishedregularly.Withoutthis leveloftransparency,itisdifficultto understandwhichchildrenare affected,thescaleofissuesfacing childrenoridentifytrendsthat requireaction.”

-JustforKidsLaw,includingthe Children’sRightsAllianceforEngland-

Lookingahead,policingmust:

Setclearnationalstandardsforrecording ethnicitydata

Providetrainingandsupporttoimprove dataquality

Monitorforce-levelperformanceondata collection

Usedatatoinformactionandmeasure progress

Currently,thereisnoincentiveforforcesto improvethewaytheycollectandusedata, anditremainsunclearwhatactiontheNPCCis takingtoprioritisethiswork.

FromthestartWorkstream4hasstruggled withalackofclearfocus.Despitethetimethat haspassed,theseniorleadershipteamhas notdoneenoughtoidentifyandembed practicalactionsthatwouldimprovesafety andjusticeforBlackcommunities

Thislackofinnovation,leadership,and follow-throughhasheldtheworkstreamback Asaresult,ithasmissedopportunitiestodeliver thekindofconcrete,community-focusedaction thatcouldmakearealdifferenceparticularly forBlackchildren,women,andgirls.

5 Enhancingperformance metricsandaccountability

Workstream4’sprogressisdifficulttoassess becausetherearestillnoclearperformance metricsorpublicreportingonoutcomes.While planningactivityhascontinued,thereislittle visibilityofwhathasactuallychangedor improvedforBlackcommunitiesasaresult.

Wehaveconsistentlyhighlightedtheneedfor bettertrackingandmeasurement.Withoutthis, itisimpossibletoknowwhethertheworkstream ismeetingitsaimsormakingarealdifference.

Atpresent,thebalanceremainstoofocusedon planningoverdelivery.Whileplanningis important,itmustbematchedwithclear evidenceofprogressandimpact.Continuing withoutthisbalancerisksundermining confidenceintheworkstream’seffectiveness

Tomoveforward,Workstream4 needstoembedclear performancemetricsthat connecttotheMaturityMatrix andusedataandevidenceto strengthenaccountabilityand informfutureaction

ISOB RECOMMENDATIONS OVER THE YEARS

Sinceitsestablishmentin2022,theIndependentScrutinyandOversightBoard(ISOB)-taskedwithholdingpolicingtoaccountonthedeliveryofPRAP-hasconsistentlychallengedthe Programmetomovebeyondwordsandtowardsmeaningful,measurablechange

Acrossourannualreports,theISOBhassetoutclearrecommendationsfocusedonimprovingpolicing’stransparency,andabilitytobuildtrustanddrivebetteroutcomesforBlackcommunities Thissectionbringstogetherthoserecommendationsfrom2023and2024toshowwhathasbeenaskedofpolicingsofar,andwherefurtheractionisstillneeded.Itisintendedtoprovide additionalcontexttoour2025recommendationsandreinforcetheconsistentcallsformoredecisiveleadership,cleareraccountability,anddeeperengagementacrossthePRAP

RestructurethePRAP 1.

Redesigntheprogramme’sstructuretoreflectthevaluesofanti-racism,reduce hierarchy,andsupportprogressionforthosedeliveringthework.

Introducetangibleand measurableperformancemetrics

Embedclear,public-facingsuccessmeasurestotrackprogressandholdforces accountable.

Identifyclearareasoffocus

StrengthenPRAP’semphasisonkeyissuessuchasstopandsearch,misconduct,and intersectionality.

Increaseengagementwithexternalstakeholders 4.

PrioritisemeaningfulconsultationwithBlackcommunities,civilsocietyorganisations, andanti-racismexpertsthroughoutdelivery

Developanddeliveranationalcommunicationstrategy 5.

CreateregularaccessibleupdatesonPRAP’sactivityandoutcomestoensure transparencyandpublicawareness.

ImprovetheflowofinformationtoISOB 6.

Ensureconsistent,opensharingofinsightsfromnationalteamsandlocalforcesto strengthenscrutinyandoversight

Provideadequateresourcingtotheplan 7.

Securethestaffskills,andfundingneededforeffectivedelivery-especiallyfor workstreamcoordinatorsandsecondedroles.

1. CentralGovernmentleadership61

TheHomeOfficemusttakeformalresponsibilityforPRAP-settingdirection,funding delivery,andcoordinatingnationaloversight

Our2024AnnualFeedbackReportfocusedonadvancingthreecorerecommendationsthat werefullyacceptedbyPRAPin2023.

IntroducetangibleandmeasurableperformancemetricsforassessingPRAPdelivery andimpact.Developacomprehensiveframeworktoassessforce-levelprogresson anti-racismincludingsuccessmetricsandtrackingmechanisms. Introducetangibleandmeasurableperformancemetrics 2.

Identifyclearandfocusedpriorityareastoensureconcentratedeffortandvisible progress

Increaseengagementwithexternalstakeholders

Identifyclearareasoffocus 3. Increasemeaningfulengagementwithexternalstakeholders,particularlycivilsociety organisationsImprovepublicandinternalunderstandingofPRAP’saimsstructure, andrequirements

(August2023)https//wwwpoicesobcouk/ fles/ugd/9e3577 512873be247a42bb878b5a2febba7bf6pdf[accessed22May2025]

59 SOBPoceRaceActonPan ndependentScrutinyandOversightBoardAnnuaFeedbackReportMay2023–May2024(August2024)https//wwwpoiceisobcouk/ fles/ugd/9e3577 53116603510b4d3784de5d4ca921fe01pd[accessed22May2025] https//wwwpoicesobcouk/ fles/ugd/9e3577 512873be247a42bb878b5a2febba7bf6pdf[accessed22May2025]

60 ISOBPolceRaceActionPlan:IndependentScrutnyandOversghtBoardAnnuaFeedbackReportMay2023–May2024–ExecutiveSummary(August2024)https//wwwpolceisobcouk/ fies/ugd/9e3577 83a8f69556784da0bc5961b03ed9859fpdf[accessed22May2025]

GLOSSARY

Adultification-ThebiasedperceptionofBlackchildrenasolder,moreresponsible,orless innocentthantheirpeersThiscanresultinreducedsafeguardingandharshertreatmentby policeandotherinstitutions

AnnualDataRequirement(ADR)-AformallistofdatathatallpoliceforcesinEnglandand WalesarerequiredtosubmitundertheHomeSecretary’sstatutorypowers.Itincludeskey policingandcrimestatistics

AuthorisedProfessionalPractice(APP)-APPisnationalguidanceforpolicinginEnglandand Wales,settingouttheactionsofficersandstaffshouldtaketoensureaconsistentandeffective servicetothepublicItcoversspecificareasofpolicingsuchasmentalhealth,roadspolicing, andcivilemergencies,andisdesignedtosupportprofessionaldecision-makingacrossforces

BaronessCaseyReview-Anindependentinvestigationintothecultureandbehaviourofthe MetropolitanPolice,ledbyBaronessLouiseCaseyPublishedinMarch2023,itfoundevidenceof institutionalracism,sexism,andhomophobia

Benchmarking-Evaluatingsomethingbycomparingitagainstanestablishedstandardorbest practice.

BlackHistoryEducationModules-AsetoflearningresourcesdevelopedbytheCollegeof PolicingtoimprovepoliceunderstandingofthehistoricalrelationshipbetweenpolicingandBlack communitiesintheUK.

BodyWornVideo-Aformofmobilevideo/audiorecordingtechnologyusedbypoliceofficers. Updatestonationalguidancenowincludea30-secondpre-recordingfeaturetoimprove accountability.

ChiefConstables’Council-TheChiefConstablesCouncilisthetopdecision-makingbodyfor theNationalPoliceChiefsCouncil(NPCC)intheUK,comprisingChiefConstablesfromvarious policeforces,includingterritorialforces,BritishTransportPolice,MinistryofDefencePoliceCivil NuclearConstabulary,NationalCrimeAgencyandCollegeofPolicing.TheCouncilservesasa forumfordiscussingoperationalpolicingissuesandestablishingnationalstandardsand approaches

Civilsocietyorganisation-AccordingtotheWorldBank,civilsocietyrefersto“awidearrayof organisations:communitygroups,non-governmentalorganizations[NGOs]labourunions, indigenousgroups,charitableorganizations,faith-basedorganizationsprofessional associations,andfoundations”

Clusterrandomisedcontrolledtrial-Aclusterrandomisedcontrolledtrial(orclusterRCT)isa typeofstudyusedtotestwhethersomething-likeanewtool,treatment,ortraining-actually worksInsteadoftestingitonindividualsonebyone,thetrialtestsitongroups(or“clusters”), suchasfamilies,schoolsorevenentirecities.

CollegeofPolicing-TheCollegeofPolicing(CoPor“theCollege”)isaprofessionalbodyfor everyoneworkingacrosspolicingItisanoperationallyindependentnon-departmentalpublic body

Dashboard-Avisualreportingtoolusedbypoliceforcestotrackkeyperformanceindicators (KPIs)andmonitordisparitydatasuchasstopandsearchoruseofforce

Directdiscrimination-Treatingsomeonelessfavourablybecauseofaprotected characteristicsuchasrace,religion,orgender.

Disproportionality-Whenagroupisimpactedbypolicepowers(egstopandsearch,useof force)ataratehigherthantheirrepresentationinthegeneralpopulation.

Diversity-Thepresenceofdifferenceswithinagivensetting,typicallyreferringtorace,ethnicity, gender,age,disability,andotherdemographics

Equality-Providingthesameresourcesoropportunitiestoindividualsorgroups

Equity-Recognisingdifferentneedsandcircumstances,andallocatingresourcestoensurefair outcomes.

Evidence&evaluation-Theprocessofgatheringdata,assessingoutcomesandmeasuringthe impactofpoliciesandinitiativesacrosspolicing.

HMICFRS-HisMajesty’sInspectorateofConstabularyandFire&RescueServicesItoversees, inspects,andreportsontheeffectivenessandefficiencyofpolicinginEnglandandWales.

IndependentAdvisoryGroups(IAGs)-Groupsoflocalcommunitymemberswhoadvisepolice forcesonhowtheirworkisperceivedandhowtoimprovepolicingintheirarea

Inclusion-Creatingaculturewhereallindividualsfeelrespected,valued,andabletocontribute fully

Indirectdiscrimination-Whenapolicythatappliestoeveryonedisproportionately disadvantagespeoplewithaprotectedcharacteristic

Institutionalracism-Thecollectivefailureofanorganisationtoprovidefairandprofessional servicestopeoplebecauseoftheirracecolour,culture,orethnicity.Thismaybevisibleinattitudes, processes,oroutcomes

Intersectionality-Awayofunderstandinghowdifferentaspectsofaperson’sidentity(e.grace, gender,class)combinetocreateuniqueexperiencesofdiscriminationorprivilege

TheIndependentOfficeforPoliceConduct(IOPC)-Anindependentbodywhichoverseesthe policecomplaintssysteminEnglandandWalesandinvestigatesseriousmisconduct.

KeyPerformanceIndicators(KPIs)-Measuresusedbypoliceforcestotracktheirprogressagainst objectives-e.g.reducinguseofforce,improvingrepresentation,orincreasingpublictrust.

LeadingInclusiveTeams-APRAPinitiativeaimedatimprovingtheleadershipskillsofpolice supervisorssotheycanpositivelyshapeorganisationalcultureandsupportinclusion.

LocalRaceActionPlans(LRAPs)-LocallydevelopedplansbyindividualpoliceforcesinEngland andWalesthatalignwiththenationalPRAP.

MaturityMatrix-Anationalself-assessmenttoolusedbypoliceforcestoevaluatetheirprogress againstanti-racismcommitments.Forcesareexpectedtoevidencechangeacrossmultiple dimensions.

NationalBlackPoliceAssociation(NBPA)-Establishedin1998,theNBPAisanationalumbrella bodyrepresentingBlackPoliceAssociationsfromacrossUKforces.Itworkstoimprovetheworking environmentforBlackofficersandstaff,influencenationalpolicyonraceequality,andstrengthen trustbetweenpolicingandBlackcommunitiesItsmembershipincludeslocalBPAsfromacross EnglandandWales,witharound5000officers,staff,andcivilservantsrepresented

NationalCommunityReferenceGroup(NCRG)-Anationalgroupofindependentcivilian stakeholdersprovidingstrategicadvicetoPRAPoncommunityengagementItsaimistoensure PRAPreflectscommunityinsightandlivedexperience

NationalPoliceChiefs’Council(NPCC)-BringstogetherseniorpoliceleadersintheUKtoset directionandstrategyacrosspolicing

NationalWorkforceDataTeam-Theteamresponsibleforcollectingworkforcedatafrompolice forcesacrossEnglandandWales,includingdiversity,vetting,andmisconductinformation

PoliceandCrimeCommissioners-Electedofficialsresponsibleforoverseeinglocalpoliceforces andholdingChiefConstablestoaccount

PEELAssessments-Policeeffectiveness,efficiency,andlegitimacy(PEEL)assessmentsare independentreviewsofpoliceforcesinEnglandandWales,carriedoutbyHisMajesty’s InspectorateofConstabularyandFire&RescueServices(HMICFRS)Theyexaminehoweffective, efficientandfaireachforceis,usinginspectionsdataandprofessionaljudgmentForcesare gradedfromoutstandingtoinadequate,givingthepublicaclearpictureofpolicingperformance.

PracticeBank-Asharedcollectionofreal-worldexamplesguidance,andtools,hostedbythe CollegeofPolicing,designedtohelpforcesadopteffectiveorpromisingapproachestopolicing challenges.

ProgrammeBoard/RaceActionProgramme-Theprogrammeteamresponsiblefordeliveringthe nationalPoliceRaceActionPlan.

PublicandPersonalSafetyTraining(PPST)-PPSTismandatorytrainingprovidedtopoliceofficers, specialconstables,andpolicestafftoensuretheyareequippedtomanageviolentorpotentially violentsituationssafely.UndertheHealthandSafetyatWorkAct1974andthePolice(Healthand Safety)Act1997,policeforceshavealegaldutytoprovideappropriateinformation,instruction, trainingandsupervisiontoprotecttheiremployees.Failingtomeettheseobligationscan constituteacriminaloffence

RacialDisparity-Differencesinoutcomesbetweenracialorethnicgroups,oftenreflecting underlyingstructuralorsystemicinequalities.Inpolicingthisincludes,butisnotlimitedto, disparitiesinstopandsearch,useofforce,andworkforceprogression

Racism-Actionsbehaviours,orsystemsthatadvantageordisadvantageindividualsbasedon theirrace,ethnicity,orculturalidentity

RestorativeJustice-Anapproachfocusedonrepairingharmandrebuildingtrustthrough dialoguebetweenaffectedcommunitiesandthepolice.

Section60SuperComplaint-In2021,theCriminalJusticeAlliance(CJA)submittedasupercomplaintincallingfortherepealofSection60oftheCriminalJusticeandPublicOrderAct1994,a powerthatallowspolicetostopandsearchpeoplewithoutreasonablesuspicionindesignated areasThecomplaintwassubmittedtoHMICFRS,andarguedthatSection60disproportionately impactsBlackcommunities,worsenstrustinpolicing,andislesseffectivethanotherstopand searchpowers.WhileHMICFRSdidnotacceptthecentralcaseforrepealtheirinquiry recommendedstrongeradherencetolegalandvoluntarysafeguardsaroundSection60.TheCJA continuestoworkwithHMICFRSontheseimprovements.

Trauma-InformedPractice-Anapproachthatrecognisestheimpactoftraumaandintegrates thatunderstandingintopolicies,procedures,andeverydaypolicing

Vetting-Theprocessofassessingthesuitabilityofpoliceofficersandstafftoholdtheirpositions, includingduringrecruitmentandre-vettingcycles.

ABOUT THE INDEPENDENT SCRUTINY AND OVERSIGHT BOARD (ISOB)

TheIndependentScrutinyandOversightBoard(ISOB)existstoprovideoverviewandexternalscrutinyofthePolice'sPlanofAction.

ThefocusofthePlanisontheexperiencesandconcernsofBlackpeopleduetothestarknessoftheracialdisparitiespresentinpolicing'sinteractions withBlackcommunities.

AbimbolaJohnsonisanaward-winninghumanrightsbarristerwhopractisesfromDoughtyStreetChambers.Shewascalledto theBarbytheInnerTemplein2011.Abimbolaisalsoalegalcommentatorfeaturingacrossmostmainstreamnewsoutlets. Her academicwritingappearsonthereadinglistfortheLSE’sLLB(Hons)courseshedeliversanannualseminaronHateCrimeand DiscriminationaspartofOxfordUniversity’sAdvancedCriminalLawundergraduatemodule,andsheisamemberoftheCriminal LawReview’seditorialboard.

Strategiccommunications andmarketingspecialist. Colin'sclientshave includedtheEqualityand HumanRightsCommission, FinancialOmbudsman Service,Charity Commissionandthe GovernmentCommercial Functionbasedinthe CabinetOffice.

Commentator,activist andindependentpolicy consultant,specialisingin policing,criminaljustice, anti-racismanddrug policyreform,working acrossWesternEurope. PreviouslyledPolice reformportfolioasa grantmakeratOpen SocietyFoundations.

FoundingDirectorofUNJUST UK,Katrinaisonamission toaddressracially discriminatorypolicies, practicesandculture.

UNJUSTisfocusedon reimaginingpolicingand thecriminallegalsystem, promotingpublicsafety andempoweringthepublic tobeagentsofchange.

Adatascientistwhohas workedintheindustryfor thelastnineyears, predominantlywithinthe publicsector,supporting theHomeOffice,The MinistryofDefenceand theMinistryofJustice, reportingandadvisingon sensitivehighsecurity data.

Experiencedpolicy professionalwithan excellenttrackrecordof leadingthedeliveryof publicpolicyinitiatives. Ramisaseniorleaderin theCivilService,andalso hasexperienceof workinginfinancial servicesregulation.