Police forces in the United Kingdom are spending substantial sums on diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, potentially hindering their operational effectiveness and contributing to a "two-tier" justice system, according to a report by the think tank Policy Exchange.
The report estimates that since the murder of George Floyd in 2020, police forces and Police and Crime Commissioners have spent at least £631 million on DEI activities. This figure, derived from extrapolated data from five constabularies, includes an estimated £431 million for DEI training manpower, £177 million for roles with a DEI component, and £23 million for external training and consultancy.
Policy Exchange suggests that the focus on DEI has led police chiefs to prioritize what they perceive as an "equality of outcomes" over their fundamental duty to act "without fear or favour." This shift, the report argues, can lead to a reluctance to address criminal behavior directly for fear of being labeled racist.
David Spencer, head of crime and justice at Policy Exchange, stated that the report reveals the "astonishing cost of the police's DEI obsession" and asserts that some police chiefs have entrenched a "radical ideology of 'anti-racism'" into British policing, contradicting its core principle of impartiality.
The report cites several cases as examples where it claims concerns about racial bias may have influenced policing decisions. These include the cases of Valdo Calocane, who killed three people in Nottingham; Axel Rudakubana, who stabbed three young girls in Southport; and Henry Nowak, who was arrested by Hampshire Police as he lay dying after being stabbed.
In the Nottingham case, a public inquiry heard that a mental health team assessing Calocane considered the "over-representation" of young black men in detention before releasing him into the community. Regarding the Southport incident, the report notes a social worker's accusation that a head teacher had racially stereotyped Rudakubana by flagging concerns about his behavior prior to the attack.
Policy Exchange contends that these instances are not isolated incidents of poor decision-making but are likely the result of policies and decisions made at senior levels of policing in recent years. The think tank concludes that restoring the principle of "equality before the law" is crucial for the fundamental legitimacy of British policing.
Chris Philp, the Shadow Home Secretary, commented that police forces should abandon "DEI nonsense" and reallocate resources and time towards apprehending criminals. He characterized the spending as a "shocking waste of taxpayers' money" and an incorrect priority given public concerns about knife crime, burglary, and shoplifting.