Force accused of racial recruitment discrimination

Personnel Today magazine will exclusively report tomorrow that a would-be police recruit turned down because he was white has accused the force in question of creating an environment ripe for racial discrimination.

Matt Powell, an IT professional, was one of 108 applicants told he had been ìrandomly deselectedî from the recruitment process by Gloucestershire police.

Nearly two-thirds of white men who applied to join the constabulary in the latest recruitment drive were turned down, whereas every ethnic minority candidate was invited for an assessment.

Gloucestershire police said it was obliged by law to bring the ethnic breakdown of its officers into line with that of the community they serve.

But in an exclusive interview with Personnel Today, Powell said that such positive discrimination would only serve to create racist views. ìSome people look at ethnic minorities as the enemy but itís not their fault itís the people who put these rules in place,î he said.

News editor Daniel Thomas at Personnel Today said: ìPolice forces have a tough job to do trying to encourage more minority staff to join, but shortlisting or appointing on racial grounds is unlawful and can create tension as Matt Powell warns. Police forces of all employers should be operating within the law.î