Smith orders police race review

Jacqui Smith wants the review to be completed within two weeks

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has announced an assessment of how ethnic minority officers are treated in police forces throughout England and Wales.

Police Minister Vernon Coaker will oversee a two-week review looking at recruitment and promotion prospects.

London Mayor Boris Johnson earlier launched an inquiry into alleged racism within the Metropolitan Police.

The Metropolitan Black Police Association has pledged to discourage minorities from working in the Met.

Ms Smith said she was "disappointed" by the boycott and said the group's subsequent advertising campaign to discourage ethnic minorities applicants for the Met was "unhelpful".

Nationally I am working closely with the police to continue to support them recruit people from all backgrounds Home Secretary Jacqui Smith

Ms Smith said: "The police service is determined to offer fair and equal opportunities to all its members, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or background.

"Since the publication of the Macpherson report they have come a long way. Over the last 10 years minority ethnic representation in the police service has doubled.

"However, we accept there is a long way to go, and we are determined to work with the police to achieve that.

"Nationally I am working closely with the police to continue to support them recruit people from all backgrounds."

Ongoing disputes

She also said Mr Coaker would work with police representatives, including the Police Federation, Superintendent's Association and Acpo.

But Muslim police groups have refused to support the MetBPA's boycott.

Members of the National Association of Muslim Police (Namp) expressed "reservations" about discouraging potential black and Asian recruits.

Supt Dal Babu said that, while he understood some of the concerns, Scotland Yard was making progress in improving race and faith relations.

Scotland Yard is already involved in a dispute with the country's most senior Asian police officer, Tarique Ghaffur, who has been temporarily relieved of his duties as he prepares a race discrimination case against the Met.

The Metropolitan Police Authority has also suspended Commander Ali Dizaei, president of the National Black Police Association, over charges of alleged misconduct.