Less than 1% of police promotions were handed to black officers last year, damning statistics reveal.
Home Office figures show 3,343 officers had a job hike in 2020/21 – yet just 26 of them were black.
Black officers make up 1.3% of the overall force, but accounted for just 0.8% of promotions, leaving them under-represented by 17.
White officers account for 90% of the force, but won 91% of promotions, suggesting they got 33 extra promotions.
Of the 26 promotions of black officers, 16 went from constable to sergeant, seven moved from sergeant to inspector and three became superintendents.
White officers won 3,057 promotions in England and Wales, including 19 into the most senior ranks.
Last year 100 Asian and 73 mixed race officers got promoted, but none in the 21 most senior jobs.
Black and ethnic minority staff make up just 7.6% of the force, but 14% of the population.
DI Andy George of the National Black Police Association called the figures “worrying but not surprising” and called for “positive action measures”.
He said: “A large proportion of white officers have connections to policing before they join, giving them access to networks black officers often don’t have.”
The National Police Chiefs’ Council said: “A representative workforce is crucial.”
