Police Scotland yesterday (May 25) admitted that the force is institutionally racist and discriminatory in a bid to champion equality and create a wider change in society.
Its Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone QPM spoke at a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority Board on Thursday where he said racism, sexism, misogyny and discrimination exists in the force.
The admission comes as the police force commits to creating a better world and becoming an anti-racist service.
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Sir Livingstone, a former police officer, has been the Chief Constable of Scotland's police force for six years and told how he felt 'a sense of duty' and responsibility for leading, shaping and representing an institution of which all the people of Scotland should be hugely proud.
Set to retire later this year, he said: "It is right for me, the right thing for me to do as Chief Constable, to clearly state that institutional racism, sexism, misogyny and discrimination exist.
"Police Scotland is institutionally racist and discriminatory.
"Publicly acknowledging these institutional issues exist is essential to our absolute commitment to championing equality and becoming an anti-racist Service. It is also critical to our determination to lead wider change in society.
"Prejudice and bad behaviour within policing, as highlighted by court and conduct cases, various independent reviews and by listening to our own officers and staff over recent years, is rightly of great concern and is utterly condemned.
"There is no place in Police Scotland for those who reject our values and standards. Our vigilance as an organisation has never been stronger - rigorous recruitment; enhanced vetting; more visible conduct outcomes; and a focus on prevention.
"Police Scotland has grown into an organisation known to be compassionate, values based, and highly competent. It is well regarded nationally, extremely well regarded internationally, but I know it can improve, must improve."
He commended the work staff do to keep communities safe but didn't shy away from admitting that people from different backgrounds don't always get the service that is their right.
He added: "A candid, clear, assessment of institutional discrimination means recognising our absolute duty to provide just and effective policing for all according to their specific needs and circumstances. It also requires identifying and removing the deep-rooted barriers to achieving this.
"These are necessary steps to progress the commitment that Police Scotland will be anti-racist; a personal commitment I made to my fellow citizens at the commencement of the Public Inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh. And, as a commitment to the people of Scotland, it is also a commitment to Sheku Bayoh’s family and loved ones.
"The onus is on us, the police service, to address gaps and challenge bias, known or unwitting, at every level, wherever bias occurs, to maintain and build confidence with all communities.
"Recognising institutional discrimination, institutional racism, in my view, is a statement of reality. The real challenge, the real test, is how are we working to address it, what are we doing about it?
"We are actively, genuinely, listening to under-represented communities, inside policing and across our country and beyond, to understand how we can better serve them.
"We are investing to give every police leader the skills and tools they need to build inclusive, effective teams. We are committed to increasing our knowledge and learning on inclusion. We are open, we want to know more. We are committed to regularly and actively challenging and changing our own policies and procedures to eradicate unwitting bias.
"Our intention, my intention, is to move towards meeting the ambition set out by Sir William Macpherson to eliminate racist prejudice and disadvantage and demonstrate fairness in all aspects of policing.
"A great strength of policing in Scotland is our diversity - anyone can be a police officer. We will attract, retain and promote a diverse workforce which reflects and represents our communities.
"The police are the public and the public are the police and this is truer in Scotland than anywhere else."
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