WILTSHIRE’S Police Federation has said labelling all forces as institutionally racist would damage public confidence and officer morale.

Senior police leaders in Britain are considering making a public admission that their force is institutionally racist, the Guardian recently reported.

Policing has been engulfed in accusations of institutional racism over stop and search statistics.

The Guardian report – which has remained unchallenged by chief officers – says that members of the National Police Chief’s Council opened a debate into whether to put the label on policing. More discussions are to be held in January with a decision due in February.

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Phil Matthews, chairman of Wiltshire Police Federation, said wrongly labelling the police as institutionally racist would damage public confidence in policing and the morale of the officers.

Phil said: “To label all police forces in England and Wales as institutionally racist could damage the ongoing work of the Wiltshire Police in advancing its policies around equality, diversity and inclusion. Which in Wiltshire are recognised as very good. Recently Wiltshire Police was ranked 36 in the inclusive top 50 employers list for 2021/22.

“There needs to be thought on what impact such a label would have on front line officers and the additional conflict it is likely to cause them.

“In a time where officer numbers are so low and morale is a concern, such a label is likely to cause officers in all departments to feel like they aren’t doing enough.

“While there will always be more change required to old policies and practices I believe we are on the right track and working towards the right goals.

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“Our chief constable is aware of the impact such a term would have on colleagues and while we can all agree there is still work to be done, to label the entire force as institutionally racist is inaccurate and would damage the public confidence in policing as well as the confidence and morale of the officers.”