West Yorkshire Police Faces Backlash blocks white British candidates from applying

[Social Media]

 

West Yorkshire Police Faces Backlash Over Alleged Discriminatory Recruitment Practices

 

One of Britain’s largest police forces has come under fire for a recruitment strategy that critics say unfairly blocks white British candidates from applying, while allowing early access for individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds. West Yorkshire Police (WYP) is currently facing accusations of running a “hidden” recruitment scheme in an effort to increase diversity within its ranks — a move some legal experts believe may constitute unlawful positive discrimination.

 

According to information disclosed by The Telegraph, white British applicants have been excluded from applying to entry-level police constable programmes while “under-represented” groups are encouraged to submit applications ahead of general recruitment windows. The force, which serves a region where nearly a quarter of the population is from an ethnic minority background, argues that the approach is necessary to better reflect the communities it serves.

 

A whistleblower, previously involved in the sifting of applications, claimed that black and far east Asian candidates were given top priority or “gold” status, followed by south-east Asians marked as silver, and “white others,” such as Irish or eastern European applicants, designated bronze. “This feeds into a general theme where the pipeline for anyone white British is strangled, whilst anyone not white British is ushered through onto the next available stage,” he warned in a report to senior officers.

 

 

The force has stated publicly that early access does not provide an advantage in the application process and is only meant to attract a wider pool of candidates. “Enabling people from an ethnic minority background to apply early does not give them an advantage in the application process, it simply provides us with more opportunity to attract talent from a pool of applicants who reflect the diverse communities we serve,” WYP stated on its website.

 

Despite these assurances, the internal document seen by The Telegraph suggests that vacancies were kept open far longer for minority applicants — 446 out of 489 days analysed — while white British candidates had only 99 days to submit applications during the same period. In one notable instance, white applicants were given just two days in December 2022 to apply for a position in the police constable degree apprenticeship scheme.

 

Concerns also center on the role of WYP’s Positive Action Team (PAT), which mentors minority applicants through the process. The whistleblower alleged that PAT officers not only offered coaching, but also conducted interviews and reassured candidates that they had effectively already passed. “I have several examples of direct dishonest, fraudulent and incompetent actions by candidates that PAT have not only turned a blind eye to, but often defended in order to hit their figures,” he wrote.

 

In what he described as unprofessional conduct, the former officer claimed, “I have personally witnessed members of the PAT greeting candidates with unprofessional hand clasps and hugs and heard them tell candidates on numerous occasions words to the effect of ‘don’t worry, you’ve already passed and this is just a formality’.”

 

He further asserted that while official policy mandates interviews only begin once recruitment windows are open to all, PAT candidates were regularly processed — shortlisted, assessed, and even invited to interview — before white British applicants were allowed to apply. He claimed some candidates who failed initial assessments were merely “put on hold” and invited to try again in the next round, while white applicants had no such fallback.

 

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police responded to the criticism, stating: “The most recent census found that 23 per cent of people in West Yorkshire identified as being from an ethnic minority background. Our current police officer representation from ethnic minority backgrounds is around nine per cent. To address this under-representation, we use Positive Action under the Equality Act 2010.”

 

The force noted that its approach had been recently reviewed by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services during an inspection focused on activism and impartiality, and “no issues were identified.”

 

Still, a senior employment lawyer who spoke to The Telegraph argued the practice veered into “a grey area in law” and might not qualify as a “proportionate” response under current UK legislation. “This kind of approach mirrors positive discrimination as practiced in the US, but that is not allowed in the UK,” the expert said.

 

While the debate continues, West Yorkshire Police stands at the center of a growing controversy, with questions mounting over whether its efforts to improve representation have crossed legal and ethical lines.

 

Based on a report by The Telegraph  2025-04-11

 

 

[mikeymike100]

"A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police responded to the criticism, stating: “The most recent census found that 23 per cent of people in West Yorkshire identified as being from an ethnic minority background. Our current police officer representation from ethnic minority backgrounds is around nine per cent. To address this under-representation, we use Positive Action under the Equality Act 2010.”

 

So this is using DEI to fill quotas, which is racist..??

[Kinok Farang]

Makes sense to me as the population in West Yorkshire are mainly "browns".Speaking Urdu should be a stipulation too because that is the language of the locals.Yet another part of Mother England that has disapeared for ever.

[jcmj]

And soon the White British will be the minority.  Sad to see others immigrants who come in and don’t assimilate but just take over areas and it keeps expanding. 

[thaibeachlovers]

Where is the British Trump to send this BS to the garbage bin?

[quake]

Just one more example of Broken Britain.

It's so far down the toilet nowadays.

[JonnyF]

The indigenous people of Britain have been treated disgracefully by the self loathing leftists/liberals.

 

Bottom of the rung on every level. 

 

I hope the backlash is less than I suspect it will be. 

 

People can only take so much and many betrayed working class Brits are seething right now. 

 

May calmness prevail. 

[johnnybangkok]

31 minutes ago, Kinok Farang said:

Makes sense to me as the population in West Yorkshire are mainly "browns".Speaking Urdu should be a stipulation too because that is the language of the locals.Yet another part of Mother England that has disapeared for ever.

Absolute nonsense. It literally says in the article 'The force, which serves a region where nearly a quarter of the population is from an ethnic minority background, argues that the approach is necessary to better reflect the communities it serves.'

 

Now I'm sure arithmatic isn't your strong point but that leaves 75% that isn't from an ethnic background and nowhere near  'mainly'.

[johnnybangkok]

Just now, JonnyF said:

The indigenous people of Britain have been treated disgracefully by the self loathing leftists/liberals.

 

Bottom of the rung on every level. 

 

I hope the backlash is less than I suspect it will be. 

 

People can only take so much and many betrayed working class Brits are seething right now. 

 

May calmness prevail. 

I was wondering how long it would take you to appear with your 'whites are getting victimised' nonsense.

 

From the article - 'The force has stated publicly that early access does not provide an advantage in the application process and is only meant to attract a wider pool of candidates.'

[HK MacPhooey]

31 minutes ago, johnnybangkok said:

Absolute nonsense. It literally says in the article 'The force, which serves a region where nearly a quarter of the population is from an ethnic minority background, argues that the approach is necessary to better reflect the communities it serves.'

 

Now I'm sure arithmatic isn't your strong point but that leaves 75% that isn't from an ethnic background and nowhere near  'mainly'.

‘Where nearly a quarter of the population is from an ethnic minority background’ should not make a damned bit of difference - Yorkshire is an English county in England and if 100% of the police force is ethnic English then so be it.

[norfolkandchance]

33 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

 

You may get told off for using those words, but it does seem that the Telegraph and Mail are the Forum's main choices of UK news

Don't forget the Guardian.

[Sir Dude]

Clearly discrimination and likely illegal... isn't this what Americans call "affirmative action" before the woke label came along? Some real vindictive idiots are now in control of the UK.

[JonnyF]

54 minutes ago, johnnybangkok said:

From the article - 'The force has stated publicly that early access does not provide an advantage in the application process and is only meant to attract a wider pool of candidates.'

 

Yes i suspect they have seen the backlash to the official 2 tier PSR guidelines.

 

Putting it in black and white still seems problematic. It's too early to admit to white hatred as official policy. 

 

Back to pretending it isn't happening. Gaslighting. It gives you lefties an olive branch to cling to. "You're imagining it".

 

Best you guys keep your racism quiet. A nudge and a knowing wink between like minded Libs. "Dave Jones just wasn't suitable darling, Gervontwon Johnson has no experience but so much more potential".

 

We all see through your ilk. 

 

 

[James105]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

a move some legal experts believe may constitute unlawful positive discrimination.

 

There is no such thing as "positive" discrimination.  It's negative, it's racist, it breeds resentment, and every single time it happens it causes more and more people to become a bit more racist than they were yesterday.   Racism was just about defeated in the 90s/2000s and its made a huge comeback thanks to the racists on the left that seem to think by being racist to white people they are anti-racist, such is the level of their stupidity.  

[mikeymike100]

47 minutes ago, Sir Dude said:

Clearly discrimination and likely illegal... isn't this what Americans call "affirmative action" before the woke label came along? Some real vindictive idiots are now in control of the UK.

Yes, indeed. It was called affirmative action, but that morphed into DEI, which is by definition racist.

Thankfully President Trump has put that into the history books in the US  it’s been significantly curtailed in federal agencies and many Republican-led states, especially in public education and government!

That needs to be implemented in the UK, but alas it looks like the opposite is happening!

[youreavinalaff]

1 hour ago, HK MacPhooey said:

‘Where nearly a quarter of the population is from an ethnic minority background’ should not make a damned bit of difference - Yorkshire is an English county in England and if 100% of the police force is ethnic English then so be it.

Ethnic English? Not British?

 

How many generations would you feel we'd need to go back before deeming someone ethnic of a nationality?

[johnnybangkok]

45 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Yes i suspect they have seen the backlash to the official 2 tier PSR guidelines.

 

Putting it in black and white still seems problematic. It's too early to admit to white hatred as official policy. 

 

Back to pretending it isn't happening. Gaslighting. It gives you lefties an olive branch to cling to. "You're imagining it".

 

Best you guys keep your racism quiet. A nudge and a knowing wink between like minded Libs. "Dave Jones just wasn't suitable darling, Gervontwon Johnson has no experience but so much more potential".

 

We all see through your ilk. 

 

 

And we certainly see through yours. 

Despite all your protestations, the UK still remains a tolerant place where a person is judged on their character and ability with the VAST majority of Brits thankfully not agreeing to your obviously biased agenda. The idea that an ethnic minority is hired over a white candidate is purely in your right-wing, racist fantasy imagination to fuel some sort of dystopian nightmare that simply doesn't exist. People are idiots irespective of the colour of their skin - something you aptly demonstarte every time you post.   

[johnnybangkok]

46 minutes ago, James105 said:

 

There is no such thing as "positive" discrimination.  It's negative, it's racist, it breeds resentment, and every single time it happens it causes more and more people to become a bit more racist than they were yesterday.   Racism was just about defeated in the 90s/2000s and its made a huge comeback thanks to the racists on the left that seem to think by being racist to white people they are anti-racist, such is the level of their stupidity.  

Pure imagination to fuel your echo chamber. 

[SunnyinBangrak]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Where is the British Trump to send this BS to the garbage bin?

Serving 9 months solitary for the crime of.......independant journalism

[Stiddle Mump]

If they chucked out the peelers that were on the take, the % of non-whites would jump up.

 

Didn't meet many decent ones when I lived in the UK.

[Kinok Farang]

3 hours ago, johnnybangkok said:

Absolute nonsense. It literally says in the article 'The force, which serves a region where nearly a quarter of the population is from an ethnic minority background, argues that the approach is necessary to better reflect the communities it serves.'

 

Now I'm sure arithmatic isn't your strong point but that leaves 75% that isn't from an ethnic background and nowhere near  'mainly'.

Give it a few years.I was only going off the percentage of Asians living off benefits in West Yorkshire.

[Kinok Farang]

1 hour ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Serving 9 months solitary for the crime of.......independant journalism

Oh Tommy Tommy.

[quake]

DEI, Only lowers the bar in the work place. 

 

[WDSmart]

This sounds like DEI in the USA, which I firmly support. HOWEVER, no one should be PROHIBITED from applying. Everyone should be allowed to apply, and then, in this case, ethnicity can be one of the factors considered during the hiring process. 

[Magictoad]

5 hours ago, johnnybangkok said:

I was wondering how long it would take you to appear with your 'whites are getting victimised' nonsense.

 

From the article - 'The force has stated publicly that early access does not provide an advantage in the application process and is only meant to attract a wider pool of candidates.'

Which is a lie

[sqwakvfr]

This is a slippery slope.  In the late 1980's I went through the hiring process for a large police department in Southern  California.  I was one of 200 applicants who were told to report to an auditorium where 100 of us would be chosen for the next academy class.  All 200  were qualified and passed each step of the hiring process. The department representative told us the class has to be composed of the folllowing:

 

1.50% Male White and equivalents (Asian males fell into this category)

2.20% Male Black

3. 20% Male Hispanic

4. 10% Female

 

Many candidates who fell under #1 never got hired.  

This type of hiring did not improve the department. It just looks good on paper and will please some in the community.  In essence it's good PR and checks the inclusivity clause. 

 

Eventually I got into a later class because a few candidates dropped out.  

 

[JonnyF]

9 hours ago, johnnybangkok said:

And we certainly see through yours. 

Despite all your protestations, the UK still remains a tolerant place where a person is judged on their character and ability with the VAST majority of Brits thankfully not agreeing to your obviously biased agenda. The idea that an ethnic minority is hired over a white candidate is purely in your right-wing, racist fantasy imagination to fuel some sort of dystopian nightmare that simply doesn't exist. People are idiots irespective of the colour of their skin - something you aptly demonstarte every time you post.   

 

You are a racist.

 

You support discrimination against white people and call it "positive".

 

No better than an 80s skinhead who supports racism against blacks or Asians.

 

You think you are better than them. But you are not.

 

In fact I would argue they are better than you. They were at least honest about their racist tendencies. Whereas you lie about yours and hide behind faux kindness.

 

Just another self loathing racist white Liberal pearl clutcher. 

 

 

[MicroB]

16 hours ago, norfolkandchance said:

Don't forget the Guardian.

 

 

Because its free to read, and isn't full of appalling popup ads like the Sun/Mirror/Express/Mail. For the Telegraph, there is an incredibly simple hack in modifying the URL to read articles for free which I ain't sharing.

[MicroB]

11 hours ago, WDSmart said:

This sounds like DEI in the USA, which I firmly support. HOWEVER, no one should be PROHIBITED from applying. Everyone should be allowed to apply, and then, in this case, ethnicity can be one of the factors considered during the hiring process. 

 

DEI used in the US is specifically illegal in Great Britain. In GB, positive action is legal, affirmative action, the US standard, is illegal. In Northern Ireland, affirmative action is legal; it was necessary in order, for instance, to increase the Catholic composition of the PSNI (formally RUC). But even Affirmative Action in NI is different from the US.

 

Positive Action is legal in the UK. Positive Discrimination is illegal.

[WDSmart]

6 hours ago, MicroB said:

 

DEI used in the US is specifically illegal in Great Britain. In GB, positive action is legal, affirmative action, the US standard, is illegal. In Northern Ireland, affirmative action is legal; it was necessary in order, for instance, to increase the Catholic composition of the PSNI (formally RUC). But even Affirmative Action in NI is different from the US.

 

Positive Action is legal in the UK. Positive Discrimination is illegal.

Thanks for your post, and I agree with the message of your last statement above.

I'm a US citizen, and the US has a history different from Great Britain's. I don't know the details there, but in the US, people who were non-White were harshly discriminated against, a discrimination which, although it has lessened, exists even today. DEI and its predecessor, Affirmative Action, were put into place to try to resolve or at least lessen some of the inequities that exist today because of that prior (and in some areas, current) discrimination. 

In the example given of Yorkshire, with an approximately 25% minority population, DEI and Affirmative action would be used when the workforce of a particular agency or business had a lesser percentage of minorities than that, in an attempt to increase the percentage to something close to that of the local public.

But, as I wrote earlier, it should never be used to EXCLUDE an applicant; it would only be used as one of the many factors used when considering the applicant for employment.