UK police forces spend millions on diversity roles while crime rates rise
British police allocated £15 million for diversity-related positions since 2021‚ creating almost 200 such roles nationwide. Meanwhile crime statistics show concerning trends in some diverse communities
UK police forces spent £15-million on equality-diversity-inclusion roles since 2021 which could have paid for 650 new officers (based on entry-level salaries of £21‚654 to £24‚780)
Gwent Police and Police Scotland lead with 52 EDI positions each while Thames Valley Police has 48 roles paying between mid-30s to high-50 thousands per year; their numbers grew by one-third in past 3 years
At a meeting last winter‚ a Thames Valley Police Community-and-Diversity Officer (earning £27‚953 plus benefits) explained his duties:
- Engaging with communities
- Overseeing hate crime
- Supporting senior leadership
- Working with Operations and PREVENT teams
Despite having many diversity staff Thames Valley Police recorded 13‚116 hate-related incidents over three years; In Slough (a town with 64% ethnic minority population) there were 13‚254 victim-based crimes including one homicide and 5‚820 violent crimes against people in the past year
A concerning case emerged when a Muslim woman leaving her abusive husband contacted Thames Valley Police for help – she was directed to a hotline that suggested using a Sharia court. Legal experts confirm theres no requirement for police to refer domestic abuse victims to religious councils. The police press team is now looking into this incident but hasnt provided answers yet
The focus on community engagement through EDI positions and advisory groups seems to overshadow the primary duty of law enforcement – maintaining order and protecting all citizens regardless of their background
