The race watchdog says forces in England and Wales are "frozen solid" in their attempts to tackle race issues.

The CRE report comes as the Home Office announced it was considering making ethnic minority police targets more achievable by only applying them to new recruits rather than the entire forces.

The proposal is from the Association of Chief Police Officers which says many forces in England and Wales will not meet the current targets.

Do you agree with the CRE report and its recommendations? Is it a good idea to lower ethnic minority police targets? What should be done about tackling police race issues?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:

Exclusion or reduction of recruits from minority groups will only exacerbate the problem Pancha Chandra, Brussels, Belgium

Police racism should be nipped at the bud. All forms of prejudice emanating from the police force sends shock waves and creates deep misgivings. Ethnic minorities should be well represented and there should be greater transparency. Exclusion or reduction of recruits from minority groups will only exacerbate the problem. Clear, rational thinking is necessary here and all groups should feel safe and wanted not excluded.
Pancha Chandra, Brussels, Belgium

Numerous investigations into institutionalised racism have now been carried out. We should now have one into the Commission for Racial Equality to establish whether they are doing more harm than good to race relations.
Ken, England UK

Racism works both ways. If the police are met with a wall of silence and hostility in certain communities then is it not surprising that they become prejudiced against that community? Progress needs to be made on both sides, not just within the police service, but the CRE can't criticise the very people it's supposed to be working for can it? After all, their main aim is to justify their own existence.
David Priddy, Slough, UK

The CRE are yet again targeting an over stretched police force with more broad brush accusations Shaun Harrison, Nottingham

The CRE are yet again targeting an over stretched police force with more broad brush accusations. Their left wing agenda fools no one. Racism is on the increase throughout the whole of UK society thanks to the appalling management of immigration and racial integration by this government and its quangos. The answer lies not in forcing people to accept the unacceptable, including members of the police force, but to build and manage an integrated society in a way that is acceptable to the indigenous population.
Shaun Harrison, Nottingham

Everyone seems to be missing the point: "being racist" is not a crime, it's committing an act (like hitting someone) because of your racist beliefs that is against the law. We can no more punish someone for "being a racist" than we could punish them for "being a socialist".
Peter, Nottingham

The police do a wonderful job under trying and difficult times. The CRE should be disciplined for wasting time and money, it is not the colour of the skin, but if you have the qualities and education needed.
Carole, UK

I have thought many times about joining the police force, but the political correctness brigade has always made me think twice. This "positive discrimination" attitude is going to have to stop! It's still discrimination and, like all discrimination, it's only going to antagonise those it discriminates against.
Mike di Ricci, London

Checks on candidates will help but will not solve the problem Mark, Norwich

Police officers are humans and members of society. Racism exists in all areas of society so it is virtually impossible to preclude it from any organisation entirely. Checks on candidates will help but will not solve the problem. The ad on TV at the moment from black footballers says it all - no-one should put up with bigots and it is up to everyone to speak out. As for targets - how is that going to help? Yes, try to recruit more from different races but the police need the right calibre of officer so is there a risk of accepting an officer because of skin colour rather than ability to do the job?
Mark, Norwich

Being a police officer is a vocation, it takes somebody who wants to do the job. After all who else wants to work unsocial hours, risk injury every day, be pilloried by the media and interest groups at every opportunity and be called upon as a "servant" by an ever demanding and ever unappreciative public. It's not exactly the most desirable job in the world. How the colour of somebody's skin falls into the equation of competency to perform this role I cannot tell.
Jane, Surrey, UK

I get tired of all this sniping. Racism exists in every profession and every country. It is not restricted to one racial or religious group. Every community, every race, every religion and both sexes have their bigots. To target one profession or one racial group is in itself racist. Before the CRE release any further reports they should look at themselves and remember that they were set up to promote equality not encourage bigotry by belittling one profession or race.
Michael, Lincoln

Targets are the wrong way to go James Edelman, London, UK

I think that the problem is being looked at in the wrong way. Targets are the wrong way to go. Instead, we should be attempting to encourage more people from all backgrounds to apply to the police force. That way we will get the best officers regardless of age, race and gender. Who would want to join a police force that is called racist by all these government bodies? Too many of these inquiries will weaken the police force.
James Edelman, London, UK

Surely targeting gives priority and privilege to one group at the expense of another based purely on the colour of the applicant's skin, which I thought was racial discrimination? I also would be happier knowing that the officers on the beat were there because they had been selected as the best candidates for the job, not because they were a particular race.
Ian, UK

The only way to tackle racism is to understand why it exists in the police force? Once that is answered then the solution to the problem will reveal itself.
Emma, Catford, London

I welcome the CRE report in its aims to make the police force accountable and to serve the whole community. However, I do worry about officers becoming little more than number crunching statisticians rather than doing the job we all want, which is fighting crime. We must catch racists when they apply to the police force by spending more money on training until officers of every ability know a correct code of ethics. For "stealth" racists let us employ more advanced psychological profiling.
Oliver, London

The CRE seem more interested in apportioning blame than taking steps to promote and enable racial equality Dunstan V, Rugby, England

If sectors of society are under-represented in the police force then I have no problem in assistance being targeted to enable individuals to meet the standards required for police recruits. However, the CRE seem more interested in apportioning blame than taking steps to promote and enable racial equality.
Dunstan V, Rugby, England

What's wrong with you British? I haven't heard you asking for a racially balanced NHS: Indians are less than 2% but make 17% of your doctors! As a Nigerian currently in Europe, I "naturally" share the view that all institutionalised forms of racism should be fought. Yet I find the idea of a "racially balanced" police force to be suspect. Don't look at people's skin. Look at whether they have the aptitude and attitude to serve in the positions to which they're applying. Otherwise, you destroy the quality of your police. In spite of your worries, most people outside the UK think your country has the best police force in the World. Many of us think it a miracle that your officers can safely do their jobs with the respect of the population without carrying menacing tools. Not perfect, but don't destroy it. Talk of multicultural fundamentalism! In general, for "life-and-death" jobs - pilots, doctors, police and so on - racial quotas will only lead to disaster, whatever the PR advantages.
Hameed Agberemi, Leiden, The Netherlands

I am a serving Police Officer, and I am wholeheartedly sick to death of being told I belong to an organisation that , if the critics were to be believed is populated by people waiting to carry out their racist actions on a poor unsuspecting minority section of the public! Nothing and let me repeat nothing could be further from the truth than the image that CRE and other pressure groups are attempting to portray.

I have sat back and held my own council on many issues that as a police officer affect my moral, and overall sense of "worth" to a certain section of society that seem reluctant to say the least to accept that rank and file police officers do not have issues with race or creed or religion etc, because the common denominator is that criminals/wrongdoers are simply that....they are not criminals due to skin colour or other minority persuasion, they choose to be criminals - full stop! When will bodies like CRE etc stop trying to justify their existence and make efforts to bridge what they see as the massive gap rather than attempting to exploit it for their own ill conceived aims!
V M, Sheffield UK

I am a serving Police Officer in a Home Counties Force. My constabulary has become utterly obsessed with diversity issues to the extent that it seems to have become their number one priority. It seems to me that the hierarchy of this force (and I would guess it is the same with other forces) has decided that it must treat its staff like idiots and preach politically correct nonsense to us constantly. Racists are a blight to all society, not just the Police, but I don't need constant input from my Executive to remind me. I experience racists everywhere in life-I met a racist teacher the other day. Her attitudes appalled me as much as it would any normal person, yet I don't see a drive to lecture the Teaching profession in its Diversity. I would like to be left to do my job and not feel guilty about it.
Mark, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire

I have to say that I have nothing against police in this country. I also think they do a great job putting their life in danger. I also would like to say to those people who are unhappy on the way that they have been treated by the police. I just would like to say that the police treat them better of than any other country in Europe would have treated them. I am not including names. So shame to you lot who are unhappy with the way that police have treated you.
Bashkim Krasniqi, Catford London

As a long serving, now retired, police officer. I can say of course there are racists in the police service. However there is far more racism in other areas of society. The Police have become the whipping boys for the politically motivated, who ultimately will do more harm than good. Integration is the key, not separation.
David M Price, Orlando, USA

First of all, stop all this silly idea about ethnic minority police targets. Take the line off the application form asking about ethnic background. If a person is suitable for the job, their ethnic origin should not even be asked. Secondly, stop the police from making internal investigations into racism, and make the culprits responsible for their own actions in a court of law.
Elaine, Letchworth Garden City

Have police officers visit schools to talk about careers in the force. Many people don't consider policing a career. Increasing their wages helps to encourage good people too.
Jeffrey Lake, London, UK

There will always be individuals who give the service a bad name and both I and 99.9% of my colleagues despise them Anon, Staffs, UK

I'm a white officer who joined the service in the 1980s with few qualifications and not attracted by the �90 a week I took home back then. I joined because I thought it a worthwhile job and In the past 20 years I know I have made a difference to many people from all ethnic groups and I'm proud of it. I'm sick to death of always being labelled a racist by bodies such as the CRE and fed up by having to reach quotas dictated to me by senior officers who now are nothing more than number crunching managers. There will always be individuals who give the service a bad name and both I and 99.9% of my colleagues despise them. Please let us get on with what we do well, being the best Police Service in the World.
Anon, Staffs, UK

It takes time - lots of it - to change the attitudes of people. Education is the key. Use statistics to reveal where we are but beware targets simply bring about artificial (engineered) outcomes.
Brendan, Sherborne UK

Anyone found to be racist in the Police should immediately be fired and all benefits be stripped, ie pension etc. Bullies are attracted into all areas of work however the Police is an institution that represents the community and should do so in a fair manner. People who join the police whatever race should be able to deal with the public in a professional and law abiding manner, race should not even be an issue.
Simon Ward, Norwich, UK

Another predictable CRE report. The bottom line is, most people want police officers to be recruited on merit not on their skin colour or gender. The politicians seem more concerned with aesthetic changes to the police and trying to change the police from a force that deals with crime to a second social service. We don't want political correctness, and most of my black friends agree they just want the police to get on with the job rather than this incessant race debate that only divides people.
John Townsend, Colchester, UK

As an ex-police officer your colour should not even come into consideration. Every police officer should be appointed based on their ability, attitude and capability to do the job. If a person either black or white is not capable then they shouldn't be appointed. And as for appointing ethnics just to make the figures look good would be very large backward step for law and order (what's left of it) in this country.
Brian Clark, Barton upon Humber UK

I agree with many writers who say that colour and/or creed should not be allowed to influence acceptance into the Police force. Higher, not lower acceptance standards are needed for all applicants.
Michael McIver, Hastings, UK

Imposed targets never work. We've seen that in South Africa where it becomes the norm to hire people not because they are the best man or woman for the job, but because they are of a particular race (this happened during Apartheid and is happening now with Affirmative Action). What happens then is that service levels decline significantly - this will affect the country in more way than one. When it comes to policing the country, it becomes even more important to hire the right people for the job.
Douglas Davies, Johannesburg, South Africa

More worrying than failure to achieve targets is the emerging fact that almost anyone can now join the force. Race antagonists operate sometimes alone and sometimes as part of a structured infiltration, executing a clear and sinister agenda. More money spent on recruitment vetting procedures might prevent some of the more serious sex, race and drug offences committed within the confines of an otherwise respected profession.
Patrick V. Staton, Guildford, UK

There are elements of racism in every group of people not just the police. The police have a more difficult job having to deal with all the various elements and automatically have racism thrown at them any time they deal with a minority person. If the BBC secretly filmed any type of work group there is no doubt they would show up some racism.
Larry Seabrook, Devon UK

These constant public allegations of racism directed against the police are counter-productive and will only affect morale. We keep hearing how the black community has been failed by the police service. Let's be honest the police service fails a large section of the white community as well. The CRE have cried wolf once too often.
Tony Gyles, Basingstoke

I have never agreed with "ethnic minority targets" where ever they have been used. I am a firm believer that the best person for the job should be hired, whatever their race or skin colour may be. If you set yourself a target of hiring a specific number of people from a particular background just to reach a target statistic, then several are likely to be appointed, regardless of their ability to do the job - thus causing animosity amongst colleagues. Stop using the police force as an organisation to trumpet race relations and just hire the people who are capable of doing the job, and doing it well! As for the racists, they are in all organisations unfortunately - we all share the responsibility of rooting them out, where ever we work.
Paul, Essex, UK

I can't believe race is even an issue when applying for the police force. What year are we living in? As to the racial bigots in the force - get rid of them - they aren't needed. I cant even believe racism is still an issue in the world today.
Richard, Wales

Race, creed or colour should not come into being accepted into the police force Alan Baker, Chelmsford, Essex

Sorry but race, creed or colour should not come into being accepted into the police force. You are either good enough to be accepted or you are not. As for the CRE, you can legislate as much as you like but you cannot control what people think.
Alan Baker, Chelmsford, Essex

Better screening of police officers would be a start. Better pay would attract better educated officers. Ethnic recruitment targets don't work because if they don't want to apply, they won't.
David Ball, Wokingham, UK

Why should colour matter in the force, isn't it about protecting society rather than the superficial issues we keep getting reminded about?
David Hilton, Hudds, UK

I don't agree with the CRE report. I'm afraid that the statement that bullies will always be drawn to police work just shows the degree of institutionalised prejudice that exists in the CRE. What we need to do is stop all this looking inward and allow the police to do their job of preventing and investigating crime. Otherwise we might as well scrap the police and save the money, or put it into making the CRE the new police force.
Barry, London, UK

We should employ people who want to be coppers, and have the ability and wit to become good coppers. Targets are irrelevant as is political correctness. If a section of the community does not wish to become policemen, then so be it, they clearly have no intent on becoming inclusive, and we should not pander to them or reduce any high standard of requirement to induce them to join.

Positive discrimination as practised in the US has become discredited and we should not be continuing to tread this path. The CRE should keep its nose out matters that do not concern it such as this.
George Hinton, Twickenham, Middlesex

George Hinton - "Positive discrimination as practised in the US has become discredited". No it hasn't. Even the current ultra-conservative American government admits that positive discrimination has been a great move forward for America- especially Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice. It is a temporary measure, designed to make amends for a lack of fairness in the past and the resulting effect on the current balance. When policing figures roughly reflect the balance of society as a whole positive discrimination can be phased out and minorities will no longer "have no intent on becoming inclusive". This is not unfair, it is much fairer when you take history into account
Andrew, Belfast

It's about time us Britons rid ourselves of our "we are the best" attitude and accept a multi-cultural society.
Danny, North England, UK