Police hit minority staff target

Northamptonshire Police is hitting its recruiting targets for officers from black and ethnic minorities (BEM), a Home Office report has revealed.

The Race Employment Target report shows that in 2007/2008 the force had 52 officers out of 1,309, about 4%, which was higher than its 3% target.

It said so far this year 85 officers have been recruited and five (about 6%) matched the diversity target.

Northamptonshire is one of only 12 forces out of 43 to hit its target.

Diversity training

Northamptonshire's assistant chief constable Derek Talbot said: "This is a testament to the continued effort we have put in over recent years to ensure that we have a force which mirrors the community it represents."

He added that the success was due in part to its dedicated minorities liaison officer and a programme of diversity training within the organisation.

The statistics have improved even further since April, said Northamptonshire Police.

In June the Home Office rated the force as seventh in England and Wales for the recruitment of officers from black and minority ethnic communities.