A Driving Force in Diversity: London's Recruitment Initiative

As at the time of going to press the Metropolitan Police Service had planned to launch London’s Biggest ever recruitment initiative for the service.

The launch was to be attended by the Commissioner of the MPS, Sir Ian Blair, the Met's Director of Human Resources, Martin Tiplady and Lee Jasper, the Director of Equalities and Policing for the Greater London Authority.

Previously the Met's recruitment activities were restricted to a much smaller number of locations. The Recruitment Bus gives the Met the flexibility to visit locations where there are a high proportion of under represented groups and provides a more informal setting for the visitor.

In the short time it has been up and running the bus has visited more than 60 different events and locations ranging from the opening of Europe's largest Hindu Temple to Europride - from London Mela to Notting Hill Carnival. The Recruitment Bus continues to build on the success of its very first visit in December 2005 when at Haringey Town Centre over 100 people registered their interest in careers in the Met – nearly half were from black or minority ethnic groups. On a recent visit to Barking Town Centre, over 50 people recorded their interest, two thirds being from a black or minority ethnic background.

The bus has now been re-wrapped in fluorescent yellow livery in keeping with the ongoing recruitment drive for Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) entitled 'Make A Visible Difference'. The Met aims to recruit 2,500 new PCSOs during this financial year to enable the roll out of Safer Neighbourhoods Teams across the capital in what is now believed to be the biggest recruitment drive ever undertaken in London's history!

The Recruitment Bus will be undertaking normal recruitment activity between the hours of 08:00 and 16:00 on the day of the launch and members of the public are invited to come along and find our more about the exciting range of careers available in the MPS. 

The Met Careers Team will be on hand to answer any questions. The Met's Director of Human Resources, Martin Tiplady said: "The Recruitment Bus represents our commitment to engaging with hard to reach communities. Instead of waiting for people to come to us we have literally gone to them. Being flexible in this way has helped to recruit more people from under represented groups, which will eventually result in a workforce that is representative of the people of London."

For more information on careers in the Met go to 
www.metpolicecareers.co.uk.

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Appeal following racially motivated attack in Lewisham

Lewisham police are appealing for information following a racially motivated attack on a 31- year-old man.

On 05/09/06, at approximately 22.20, the victim, who is black, was walking home from a friend's house having got off a train at New Cross Gate station. He walked through the Woodpecker Estate, SE8, and on reaching the end of the estate at the junction with Trundleys Road, SE8, he saw a group of about six or seven white men who were walking towards him under the bridge.

They were spread out across the pathway and as he neared them one of the men stopped directly in front of him and began talking on a mobile phone. The victim put his hand on the man's shoulder in an attempt to get past and said 'excuse me' but the man did not move. He tried again to get past and accidentally knocked the man's phone out of his hand.

The man shouted at him and the victim was hit from behind with something that appeared to burst. The victim then smelt alcohol, turned and hit the man. A fight then ensued with all the men. The victim was eventually taken to the floor where he was kicked and stamped on.

The man who was on the mobile phone then jumped on the victim and bit his ear causing it to split. The victim suffered a broken thumb, fractured jaw a split ear lobe and cuts and bruises.

The men then ran off, as they did so one of the group stopped whilst running away and hurled racial abuse at him. The victim subsequently managed to get home.

The suspects are described as white and drinking from beer cans. The suspect with the mobile phone is described as white approximately 5ft 5" - 5ft 7" with black hair a slim build and wearing a dark blue tracksuit, white T shirt and light coloured trainers.

The suspect who shouted abuse is described as white, in his late 20's with dark hair with a bald patch and sideburns wearing a T shirt. Anyone with information is asked to call 0208 284 8460; alternatively to remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers on  0800 555 111.

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