MoD admits ‘mistakes were made’ in RAF diversity recruitment drive

Portraits of RAF personnel used as part of the force’s recruitment campaign. Photograph: Paul Saxby

The Ministry of Defence has said “some mistakes were made” following a recruitment drive that prioritised women and minority ethnic groups in an attempt to meet “impossible” diversity targets.

It was claimed in August that the head of recruitment for the Royal Air Force deemed it “unlawful” to prioritise women and minority ethnic groups, and had refused to follow recruitment practices that would to prioritise such candidates over white men.