CRE Report into Racism in Police Service (an opportunity for mediation?)

The report called middle management in the force the "ice in the heart of the police", with willingness to change at the top not translating into action lower down. 

Sir David Calvert-Smith, who led the investigation, said institutional racism was not necessarily the cause. Rather, many managers did not have the necessary people management skills as they were selected almost exclusively on their operational abilities. "When [managers] are appointed they are not given the training necessary to understand the new problems that they will face as managers so they are ill-equipped to deal with the sort of problems that arise," said Calvert-Smith.

He said that this meant contentious issues such as race complaints could easily be blown out of proportion.

Diana Worman, diversity adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, said that because line managers are fundamental to change in any organisation, they have to be given help understanding their roles. This is not just about legal obligations, it is about personal relationships and understanding why people behave in a particular way," she said.

TCM has been working with an increasing number of Police forces to develop ADR initiatives which help managers restore effective workplace relationships. This work supports the recent "Fairness at Work" Guidance produced by ACPO and Home Office.