An enemy within – racialised relations within the British police

Abstract

The organisational boundaries of constabularies cannot withstand questions about ‘race’. Although most research attention has been given to the policing of minority ethnic groups, the racialisation of relations within the police service is an important, fruitful area of study. In this chapter various aspects of race relations within the police service will be considered, especially the recruitment of black and Asian people into the ranks; their experience of employment within the service; and police initiatives to create a multi-racial police service within England and Wales.¹