Mark Rowley says inclusivity is crucial for the force and he refuses to be ‘blown off course’ by critics

• Sir Mark Rowley: I will have more police officers of colour in the UK capital – and the culture wars won’t stop me doing it

Mark Rowley has said the Metropolitan police must recruit more black and Asian officers in order to gain the trust of minority ethnic communities in London, and vowed not to be “blown off course by the culture wars”.

The right has criticised drives for diversity, claiming they lead to lower standards. Rowley, who is commissioner of the Met and Britain’s top police officer, said that as a leader of a major organisation he was prepared to take a stand against the “toxicity” surrounding the diversity debate and criticised other leaders for “running away from the subject”.

In our major recruitment drive, the focus must be on underrepresented communities. It is not favouritism, it is fairness – and it’s essential

• Mark Rowley is commissioner of the Metropolitan police

• Met chief says ‘toxicity’ around DEI will not stop him recruiting more Black and Asian officers

Effective policing depends upon inclusivity. If you are committed to policing by consent that stands or falls on the trust of all communities, you cannot do without it.

Last Monday, we launched a major recruitment campaign. We have no interest in the politics and ideologies of the culture wars. Inclusion is an operational necessity.

Mark Rowley is commissioner of the Metropolitan police

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