Racism allegations against the police have long been a contentious issue in Britain, but one of the country's most senior officers has ignited a fresh debate with his assertion that anti-racism guidance may be inadvertently fuelling perceptions of 'two-tier policing'. In an interview, Sir Stephen Watson, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, claimed that while he doesn't believe such a system exists or that forces are biased against white individuals, he understands the origin of this notion.
Sir Stephen argues that British policing has 'adopted the language of activism', with official guidance having 'over-corrected' in its efforts to address accusations of racism. He contends that this approach is creating an impression that forces do not police without fear or favour, suggesting that 'challenged concepts' have sometimes been incorporated into policy and used as 'proof that we don't treat people equally'. This criticism comes amidst the backdrop of the NPCC's 2025 anti-racism commitment guidance, which advises officers to respond to individuals and communities according to their specific needs, circumstances, and experiences – explicitly stating this does not mean treating everyone the same or being colour blind.
The Chief Constable, who is seen as a potential successor for the head of the Metropolitan Police, has called for a review of this guidance in light of growing public unrest. His comments echo his stance from 2021, when he instructed officers not to 'take the knee' during Black Lives Matter protests, citing concerns it would undermine impartiality.
While Sir Stephen affirms that police are fiercely opposed to racism and must continue to address it within their ranks, he believes forces should be more cautious in embracing anti-racist language. He argues that doing so could perpetuate the perception of 'two-tier policing', where officers may appear to be taking on an activist role rather than upholding impartiality.
The Chief Constable has warned that British policing faces its most significant challenge in nearly four decades, with distrust, disorder, and division amplified by social media. His comments have sparked a renewed debate about the delicate balance between addressing racism within forces and maintaining public trust in law enforcement.