Allegations surface from a whistleblower concerning recruitment strategies aimed at increasing diversity, raising questions about integrity and effectiveness within GMP.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has faced significant scrutiny for its recruitment practices after allegations surfaced from a whistleblower about the force’s ‘Positive Action Team’. This team was reportedly instructed to seek out applicants regardless of their educational qualifications or language proficiency, aiming primarily to increase diversity within the police force.
In an interview with TalkTV, the whistleblower, a former recruiter for GMP, recounted experiences that raised concerns about the integrity and effectiveness of the recruitment process. They stated, “It didn’t matter if they couldn’t speak English or had never sat an exam – it was all about getting ticks in boxes.” This approach was apparently driven by the quantity of potential recruits identified, with the whistleblower noting that achieving a goal of collecting 40 names in one day would be met with praise from superiors.
The recruitment efforts were said to focus particularly on heavily Muslim communities around Manchester. Although recruitment staff were not explicitly mandated to target Muslim individuals, the whistleblower claimed that the locations to which they were sent made the intention clear. They described instructions to visit locations such as Lidl in Rusholme, emphasising the need to collect as many candidate details as possible.
In addition to direct recruitment approaches, GMP hosted workshops on weekends aimed at helping candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds with completing application forms. However, the whistleblower remarked that only “a very, very slim number” of those who expressed interest during outreach events successfully progressed through the application process.
Statistical data from a force report in 2022 revealed that among new recruits to GMP, 47 per cent are women and 15.9 per cent come from diverse ethnic communities. It is noteworthy that the recruitment efforts outside supermarkets reportedly ceased approximately a year ago.
GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson commented on the situation, stating, “Positive action here extends to proactively reaching out to groups and encouraging them to join. But we have single windows.” He added that all applicants are subjected to the same selection process, ensuring that the best candidates are chosen.
This scrutiny follows a similar situation with West Yorkshire Police (WYP), which recently announced a temporary block on applications from white British candidates for its police constable entry programme. According to reports, WYP’s policy allows “under-represented groups” to apply ahead of others, leading to accusations of a discriminatory recruitment approach. A whistleblower from within WYP indicated that concerns raised regarding this policy were dismissed, underlining tensions regarding recruitment strategies aimed at enhancing diversity within police forces.
As the debate continues over the effectiveness and fairness of these recruitment methods, the emphasis on representation and inclusivity remains a contentious topic within law enforcement agencies.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article references recent events and policies within police forces, indicating it is relatively current. However, it also mentions data from 2022 and activities that ceased about a year ago, suggesting some elements might not be entirely up-to-date.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The whistleblower’s quotes seem original but lack a clear first reference online. The Chief Constable’s statement provides context but doesn’t have a directly referenced original source.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from a well-known publication, the Daily Mail, which generally carries a high level of credibility and readership. However, the nature of the Daily Mail can sometimes attract controversies over objectivity.
Plausability check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claims about diversity recruitment strategies align with ongoing debates within law enforcement. However, specific details might vary in accuracy, and corroborating evidence from multiple sources is necessary for full verification.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears relatively current and originates from a credible source. However, the lack of direct sources for quotes and some historical references necessitate further verification to confirm all details.
