WHEN THE Macpherson report was published in February 1999, its verdict of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) was damning.

Macpherson famously described the MPS as ‘institutionally racist’, a term he used to describe “the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin.”

The report’s publication prompted a shake up of how the MPS investigates hate crimes and murder, how it tries to create a more representative workforce, and how officers work with the capital’s diverse communities.

Among some of the key changes that have been introduced are dedicated Community Safety Units and specialist investigators across London to probe hate crimes, support victims and target offenders.

The last decade has also seen the creation of neighbourhood panels allowing local people to contribute to setting policing priorities for their area, the establishment of community liaison officers who work with and support specific minority ethnic communities in London, and the launch of independent advisory groups to guide police work.

INSIGHT