During the Conservative-led Police Uplift program, which aimed to recruit 20,000 officers over three years and concluded in March 2023, UK police forces reported equal success rates of 20% for male and female applicants. However, data obtained by Media Storm through Freedom of Information requests reveals that while one in five white female applicants was successful, only one in 14 black women was accepted.
The data underscores the importance of considering the intersections of gender and race, particularly when it comes to black women. Media Storm’s findings highlight how positive discrimination for white women has masked severe discrimination against black women, allowing it to persist unaddressed.
