Since the murder of George Floyd in 2020, police forces across the United Kingdom have spent more than £630 million on anti-racist policies, according to a report by the centre-right think tank Policy Exchange. The analysis suggests that this level of expenditure could have instead been allocated to hiring approximately 2,000 additional front-line police officers each year.

The report examined the anti-racist initiatives introduced by nearly nine out of ten UK police forces, noting that more than half of these measures primarily focused on black communities rather than addressing all ethnic groups equally. This, the report contends, has contributed to the development of a “two-tier” policing system, where certain communities receive disproportionate attention, potentially undermining the principle that law enforcement should act “without fear or favour.”

Following the high-profile murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the subsequent global discussion on systemic racism, nearly three-quarters (73%) of UK forces implemented localized “police race action plans” in response to guidance issued by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). The NPCC guidance encouraged officers to engage with suspects about their experiences of inequality and discrimination and to consider institutional racism in their work. However, the report criticizes these policies for encouraging differential treatment of ethnic minority suspects, potentially complicating objective crime investigation.

One case cited in the report involves the death of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old student who was stabbed by Vickrum Digwa. Nowak was arrested based on false allegations of racial abuse while dying. Several Members of Parliament suggested that NPCC advice to treat ethnic minority suspects differently influenced police conduct in this case. In response, the NPCC announced it would reconsider a commitment within its guidance that emphasized equality of policing outcomes does not require treating everyone “the same” or being “colour blind.”

The Policy Exchange report details the breakdown of the £631 million figure, including £43 million allocated to equality, diversity, and inclusion (DEI) training manpower costs, £177 million on staff posts involving DEI responsibilities, and £23 million spent on external training and consultancy. The think tank argues that such spending diverts public funds away from operational policing efforts addressing crime types such as knife offences, violence against women and girls, burglary, robbery, and shoplifting.

David Spencer, a former detective chief inspector and author of the report, criticized the development of these policies as largely driven by police chiefs without parliamentary oversight, describing it as a “radical ideology” entrenched within policing that risks undermining foundational principles. Spencer added that the approach taken by some forces conflicts with traditions of policing all citizens equally under the law.

The report also states that certain forces have incorporated the NPCC’s anti-racist requirements into officer competence frameworks, potentially subjecting officers to disciplinary action if they do not adhere to the underlying ideology.

In a foreword, Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington, a former police officer and Conservative peer, warned that current policies may foster division and resentment in communities, suggesting that a “two-tier” policing culture incentivizes officers to prioritise minority communities over others. Some police forces have publicly acknowledged implementing such a system.

As debate continues over the balance between equitable policing and effective crime fighting, police leaders and government bodies face ongoing scrutiny over the impact and implementation of anti-racist policies within UK law enforcement.