Green Party leader Zack Polanski has proposed increasing equality and diversity training within police forces, calling for enhanced education on issues affecting LGBTQ communities, refugees, and ethnic minorities. The initiative is outlined in a Green Party document aimed at addressing concerns of institutional racism within British policing.

The party’s campaign also includes fully implementing the recommendations of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, which reviewed police handling of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence in the 1990s. Among the proposed measures are expanded anti-racism training for officers and improved transparency in stop-and-search procedures.

The report characterizes Britain’s police forces as institutionally racist, emphasizing the need for systemic reform to rebuild trust between law enforcement and marginalized communities.

However, the proposal has drawn criticism from opposition politicians. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp dismissed the plans, accusing the Green Party of prioritizing symbolic gestures over practical solutions and labeling the proposals as a misuse of taxpayer funds.

The debate over police reform and training occurs amid ongoing public scrutiny of police practices and efforts to enhance diversity and accountability within law enforcement agencies across the UK.