Merseyside Police were branded "institutionally racist" by local Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Emily Spurrell in an interview which appears to have caught the force by surprise.
Ms Spurrell, who was elected to the position in May 2021, said that while the "vast majority" of officers were "incredibly dedicated" and "not racist" - the institution had been "designed by a certain group of people" and "did not take into account" the experiences of black and ethnic minority people.
Merseyside Police's Chief Constable, Serena Kennedy, flatly denied the force was institutionally racist, while Merseyside Police Federation, representing rank and file officers, said Ms Spurrell's comments were "deeply disappointing".
