The head of a national police action plan on race has said she has never personally seen an officer been racist.<\/p>\n
Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Amanda Pearson said she couldnt readily think of an example of racism in the force, which saw an officer convicted of joining a neo-Nazi terrorist group this year.<\/p>\n
She is leading a plan of action on inclusion and race announced by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) after the murder of George Floyd in the US sparked huge Black Lives Matter protests in Britain.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a NPCC conference in Westminster on Friday, Ms Pearson was pressed on whether she had witnessed any incident involving colleagues being racist throughout her career.<\/p>\n
Im being honest and saying I havent seen that, she said. Clearly there are incidents of racism that are happening in policing, all Im saying is that I havent personally seen them.<\/p>\n
Ms Pearson said she was not suggesting that racism doesnt exist among officers, adding: We know there are individual acts of racism conducted by officers, weve seen officers dismissed from service for racist behaviour and I wouldn't deny there are disparities within policing.<\/p>\n
An anonymous member of the audience, which included senior officers and police and crime commissioners from across the country, asked how an action plan on race could be led by someone who has never seen an act of racism in their entire career.<\/p>\n
Ms Pearson replied: I dont profess to have the lived experience some of my colleagues will have had in policing but I think its beholden on all of us to actively pursue creating a police service that can be truly anti-racist.<\/p>\n
She later said she had noticed that senior black and ethnic minority officers were not being given the same level of support that a white officer would have.<\/p>\n
The action plan was announced in June 2020 but the conference was told that it was still in draft form and would not be released this year.<\/p>\n
People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis<\/p>\n
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A girl wears a face mask during a Black Lives Matter rally in Parliament Square<\/p>\n
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People are seen by a mural of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Stevenson Square, Manchester<\/p>\n
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People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens<\/p>\n
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Children pose for their family in front of discarded placards fixed on a wall in Piccadilly Gardens after a Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Manchester<\/p>\n
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People shout slogans during a Black Lives Matter rally in Parliament Square<\/p>\n
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Demonstrators in Leicester<\/p>\n
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A demonstrator holds up a placard during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square<\/p>\n
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A demonstrator gestures during a Black Lives Matter protest in Manchester<\/p>\n
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A mounted police officer raises their baton as police horses ride along Whitehall, past the entrance to Downing Street, in an attempt to disperse protestors gathered in central London<\/p>\n
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People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff<\/p>\n
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People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road, London<\/p>\n
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Protesters hold up signs as they march along a road during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury<\/p>\n
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People climbing on top of the Queen Victoria Statue as they take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens<\/p>\n
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Children pose for a photo during a Black Lives Matter protest at Parliament Square <\/p>\n
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Demonstrators hold placards as they attend a protest march to the US Embassy in London <\/p>\n
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Protesters demonstrate near the the US Embassy in Nine Elms in London<\/p>\n
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Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square<\/p>\n
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Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester<\/p>\n
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A demonstrator is seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square<\/p>\n
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Demonstrators are seen as police officers look on during a Black Lives Matter protest near Downing street in London<\/p>\n
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Demonstrators are seen wth police liaison officers during a Black Lives Matter protest in Luton<\/p>\n
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A protest at Parliament Square in London<\/p>\n
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A demonstrator in Leicester<\/p>\n
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People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square<\/p>\n
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Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester<\/p>\n
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Demonstrators block traffic outside Victoria Station<\/p>\n
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People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Custom House Square, Belfast<\/p>\n
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Police on horseback in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London<\/p>\n
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Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square<\/p>\n
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Demonstrators throw flares above a police line during a Black Lives Matter march in London<\/p>\n
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People climbing on top of the Queen Victoria Statue as they take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens<\/p>\n
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Demonstrators raise their hands facing police officers after scuffles during a Black Lives Matter march in London<\/p>\n
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People are seen placing placards on a fence in London <\/p>\n
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A demonstrator is seen with a protective face mask during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford<\/p>\n
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A sign alternatively naming Wilson Street 'Rosa Parks Street' in Glasgow. Activists have put up names of black people and civil rights activists throughout history alongside street names around the Scottish centre as part of the ongoing worldwide demonstrations following the death of George Floyd<\/p>\n
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Boxer Anthony Joshua is seen with demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford<\/p>\n
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Demonstrators gather outside Downing Street<\/p>\n
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Demonstrators kneel facing police officers after scuffles during a Black Lives Matter march in London<\/p>\n
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Demonstrators lay on the pavement during a Black Lives Matter rally at Trafalgar Square<\/p>\n
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A protester stands on bus stop and raises their hand during a Black Lives Matter protest at Parliament Square<\/p>\n
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Protesters holding placards gather in Manchester <\/p>\n
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A man gestures during a Black Lives Matter march in in London<\/p>\n
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Girls hold placards in London<\/p>\n
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A demonstrator in Parliament Square<\/p>\n
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Continued here: <\/p>\n
Head of police action plan on race has never seen an officer being racist - The Independent<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The head of a national police action plan on race has said she has never personally seen an officer been racist. Continue reading