Thank you for taking the time to visit The Black and Asian Police Association (BAPA) site, and I hope that it will provide you with an insight of the work undertaken by BAPA on behalf the visible minority ethnic employees in the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the diverse multi-cultural communities that the GMP serves.

BAPA is not a union, but as part of a public body, shares the statutory duty to tackle racism and its insidious effects. BAPA is mindful that progress can only be made if the work is carried out in partnership with the Police Service and the minority ethnic communities, in terms of service delivery not only to its employees but also the community.

The Greater Manchester Police is unique in that its previous Chief Officer, Sir David Wilmot, made a comment in the National Press, that the Greater Manchester Police was institutionally racist. A large number of the GMP "family" took great exception to this comment, but I wonder how many of them took the time and trouble to understand what the term "Institutional Racism" as defined by the McPherson Report is. Therefore for everyone's benefit, it is defined thus:

We, at BAPA, will make it our business to steer the GMP, in line with equality issues, towards improving the working conditions of all staff members, and improving the relationships between the GMP and the ethnic communities of Greater Manchester. We will advise and, if necessary, support any individual who feels unjustly treated because of their colour, sex, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

BAPA will work with any organisation that shares similar aims and objectives in developing a just, equal and tolerant society and in eliminating racism and institutional racism.

"We must become the change we want to see"

Thank you.

Charles Crichlow
Chair GMP BAPA