The Metropolitan Black Police Association (Met BPA) announced it would launch an advertising campaign “actively discouraging” young black and Asian people from joining the force, the Daily Telegraph reports.
The Met BPA said: "The Metropolitan Police ... have made the working environment for its existing black staff a hostile atmosphere where racism is allowed to spread and those who challenge it are either suspended, told to shut up or subtly held back in relation to career development."
A deputy chairwoman of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) and head of the inquiry, Cindy Butts, accused the Met BPA of creating negative publicity which could harm the police and ethnic minorities’ relations, but crucial co-operation is needed at the moment over terrorism and knife crime, the BBC said.
She added: “I accept there are problems in the Met to do with race and faith issues and that is why we are setting up the inquiry.
“I think that the Met has moved on leaps and bounds since the Lawrence inquiry - which was 10 years ago - where it was accused of being institutional racist. It was.
“Institutional racism refers to the structures and procedures within an organisation. I believe that the structures and procedures in the Met are not perfect, but by and large they are right," she told BBC Radio 4.
Cindy said she would tell a young black person thinking of joining that “the police service is a good place to work for, with fantastic opportunities”, but accepted that some black officers do not enjoy the same opportunities as white officers.
While explaining its intention to boycott Met recruitment drives, the Met BPA addressed: “We would be failing out duty as an association if we did not share out current experiences with those who want to join with the Met.
“The boycott and our active discouragement will continue during Black History Month and beyond, until the Metropolitan Police Authority convinces us that they care about race and equality for its workforce and the people of London.
“We will not put up or shut up to racism and inequality."
Met BPA’s announcement and racism condemnation within Met police force come as Mike Fuller, Britain’s most senior black police officer told the BBC ethnic minority police have to work harder than their white peers to succeed.
He said: “We have to work twice as hard to compete, and don't feel that there is a level playing field".
Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, Britian’s most senior Muslim officer was also suspended after going public with his claims, he said former Metropolitan Police Chief Sir Ian Blair discriminated against him because of his race and religion, he was now "temporarily relieved of his responsibilities", according to the Daily Telegraph.
Another senior officer, Commander Ali Dizaei, was suspended in September 2008 by the MPA and was facing an investigation into claims of his misconduct, the BBC said.
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