The Commission for Racial Equality today called on current and former police officers to assist its investigation into the Police Service in England and Wales.

Trevor Phillips, CRE Chair, stressed the importance of gathering strong evidence to support the formal investigation:

"We mean to eliminate racial discrimination in the police service once and for all, and to achieve that we need hard facts and solid evidence. That's why we're asking police officers and policing organisations who may have experienced or witnessed racial discrimination to come forward to assist us with our formal investigation."

Mr Phillips pointed out that any evidence provided will assist the CRE in establishing where there are barriers to change, and what good practice currently exists.

"The purpose of our investigation is not to simply slap a label of 'racist' on our police forces and leave them to deal with the fall out. We want to use our powers of investigation to help the police identify where problems exist and provide solutions to those problems."

The CRE's formal investigation team is inviting evidence from the following groups of people who have either experienced directly or witnessed acts of discrimination, victimisation or harassment:

• Current officers of all ranks
• Recruits currently going through their probationary period
• Recruits or police officers who were in post on the 1st Jan 2000 but who have since left

The CRE would also like to invite evidence from:

• Police bodies such as the Black Police Association, Superintendants Association, Association of Chief Police Officers, Independent Police Complaints Commission and The Police Federation
• Legal firms or groups that have supported police officers in claims of racial discrimination
• Legal firms or groups that have supported members of the public in legal actions against the police where race is a factor

Information can be presented via written and/or oral submissions. All information provided will be treated in strict confidence unless the individual or body consent to being named.

If you are able to assist, please contact the Police Formal Investigation team by emailing policefi@cre.gov.uk, by calling 020 7939 0187 or by writing to:
Police FI Team, CRE, St Dunstan's House, 201-211 Borough High Street, London, SE1 1GZ.

Sir David Calvert-Smith QC, who is leading the investigation, also announced that a further three commissioners will be joining the formal investigation team. He said:

"I am delighted to announce that the Home Secretary has appointed Ravi Chand, Jagdish Singh Gundara and Nuala O'Loan to work alongside me on the CRE's Formal Investigation into the Police Service. They all have an excellent track record in policing and racial equality issues and will be great assets to the team."