On Monday 27th July, a recent analysis of fixed-penalty notices issued under the coronavirus regulations highlighted that young Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) men were twice as likely to be fined than their white counterparts.
Analysis by National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) found that BAME men were 1.6 times more likely to be fined than white people. It noted that men from 18-34 years old from BAME groups were over-represented by around twice the rate of young white men.
According to the NPCC 17,039 fines were issued between 27th March and 25th May, which represents only three fines per 10,000 people. But the rate for black people was 4.6 per 10,000 and for Asian people it was 4.7.
NPCC chair, Martin Hewitt, admitted that these figures raised alarms and that individual forces should consider how they tackle racial bias. He said,
“While it is a complex picture, it is a concern to see disparity between white and black, Asian or ethnic minority people. Each force will be looking at this carefully to assess and mitigate any risk of bias – conscious or unconscious – and to minimise disproportionate impact wherever possible.
“For a number of forces, continued focus on crime and violence could affect their disparity rate as areas of that have been a focus of police activity are also areas with a higher concentration of black, Asian and minority ethnic people, which also increases the possibility of officers identifying and dealing with breaches during those deployments.
However, Hewitt has urged caution over interpreting local racial disparity in the figures because so few cases were involved. In the rural Cumbria force, BAME people were 6.8 times more likely to be fined than white people.
These figures appear at a time when the police across England and Wales face an inquiry by the Independent Office for Police Conduct to establish whether they racially discriminate against ethnic minorities in their use of force and stop and search.
Several key indicators show police powers in England and Wales are used disproportionately against BAME communities. Stop and search is nine times more likely to be used against black people, and Taser stun gun use almost eight times more likely.
