Latest news with #JohnRobins
Telegraph
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Met Police coaches ethnic minority staff on how to secure promotions
The Metropolitan Police is offering bespoke workshops to ethnic minority and female candidates to help them gain promotions. A police source told The Telegraph he wanted to highlight the policy as he was concerned 'thousands of white male officers' may have been negatively affected. It comes after West Yorkshire Police was accused of having a 'racist' recruitment policy for putting a temporary block on the hiring of white candidates. Chief Constable John Robins subsequently confirmed that he wanted positive discrimination against white British candidates to be legal in order to boost the number of ethnic minorities in his force and across the country. A former officer who served in the Met for three decades told The Telegraph: 'Ethnic and female officers are individually selected and given additional workshops, coaching and access to professional coaches to make sure they are better prepared for the final promotion exam. 'White males are excluded from these workshops simply because of their biological sex and colour of their skin.' The officer, an inspector, said the promotion process consisted of a set of workshops, scenarios and interviews, and that promotion was solely based on how someone performed during those tasks. He explained: 'It does not matter how good a police officer you are – your daily performance has no bearing on your chances in the promotion process. 'So, of course, any additional help and support you can get will significantly improve your chances of passing, giving all those who are invited a huge advantage over those who are excluded.' 'Met has a series of People Priorities' In the email sent to eligible candidates, officers are told: 'You have been selected to attend this workshop as the Met has a series of People Priorities, which underpin the organisation's overall strategy, one of which is to improve black and minority ethnic and female representation at all police officer ranks. 'As part of the approach to achieving this, frameworks for focussed support are provided for both BME and female candidates to nurture and develop their talents, including provisions to support preparation for assessment – this workshop is one such provision. 'Therefore we ask that you do not share this email with your colleagues as all eligible candidates have been invited individually.' The police source told The Telegraph: 'My concern is that there are thousands of white male officers who are victims here and don't even know it. I believe that any form of racism is abhorrent. Treating someone differently simply because of the colour of their skin or biological sex is unlawful and immoral. 'To me, positive discrimination is still illegal, divisive, and creates victims. 'I believe that everyone going into the promotion process should be given equal help and support so that those who are performing the strongest and are more suitable for promotion succeed and earn the respect of those they will be leading because they have proven they are worthy of promotion.' In its Race Action Plan, published last year, the Met said: 'Our Positive Steps Mentoring Network has supported 1500 ethnic minority officers and staff and has been recognised as best practice by the College of Policing. 'Since 2021, Positive Action workshops for Black officers have seen pass rates for promotion increase from 68 per cent to 75 per cent.' A Met spokesman said: 'We want a workforce that looks and feels like the capital – allowing us to most effectively engage with Londoners, gain their trust and cut crime. This policy is a step towards achieving that.'
Telegraph
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Ethnic minority candidate given police job despite failing interview
Senior officers in West Yorkshire Police intervened to ensure that an ethnic minority candidate who failed her interview was given the job, according to leaked documents seen by The Telegraph. The female officer was initially rejected but eventually given a post after her case was taken up by the force's chief officer team, which includes Chief Constable John Robins. To get around her failure, West Yorkshire Police then scrapped interviews for officers transferring to the force, the documents show. The move will increase pressure on the force, one of the UK's largest, which has already been accused of prioritising ethnic minority candidates with 'appalling racist hiring' practices. West Yorkshire Police used the policy change to offer jobs to six other ethnic minority officers who had failed their interviews or had been rejected from shortlists in the previous eight months. Eight white officers, who had been rejected at the interview stage, were also offered jobs as a consequence. One email seen by The Telegraph shows that the female candidate was allowed to join before pre-employment checks were carried out on the orders of the chief officer team. 'Lost the plot' A senior officer involved in recruitment made an official complaint to the police watchdog. An insider told The Telegraph: 'West Yorkshire Police have lost the plot in becoming obsessed by race. It can't be right that officers who failed interviews were then given jobs.' But West Yorkshire Police said that a complaint that the police constable had been 'given favourable treatment' had been investigated 'thoroughly' and that no evidence had been found to support the allegations. The force is under scrutiny after The Telegraph first disclosed that white British applicants are being temporarily blocked from jobs as new recruits to boost diversity. A whistleblower complained to this newspaper that white candidates were being discriminated against illegally to increase the proportion of officers from under-represented groups, a claim the force denies. Chief Constable Robins last month said he stood by previous comments where he said that he wanted discrimination against white candidates to be legal. The documents seen by The Telegraph show that the female police officer was initially blocked from transferring to West Yorkshire Police while she was still on a two-year probationary period at another force. A police officer in charge of sifting applicants refused her transfer 'as she is still in her probationary period,' but was slapped down and told he had misunderstood the policy.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
I want to discriminate against white candidates, says police chief
A chief constable accused of having a 'racist' recruitment policy has said he wants discrimination against white British candidates to be legal. Chief Constable John Robins, the head of West Yorkshire Police, said the law should be changed in order to boost the number of ethnic minorities in his force and across the country. It comes as the force faces a backlash for putting a temporary block on the hiring of white candidates – a move that could potentially amount to positive discrimination, which is currently illegal in England and Wales. In a move likely to fuel fresh tensions, Mr Robins said he stood by previous comments that 'legislation should change' so that forces were free to positively discriminate in favour of ethnic minorities. A spokesman said: 'The Chief Constable's position has not changed. It is a national view that he holds.' Neil O'Brien, Conservative MP for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston, said: 'What West Yorkshire police are doing with their racist hiring policies and division of different ethnic groups is skirting the edge of the law. It is no surprise to discover they have been pushing for the law to be changed to legalise these racist hiring policies. 'With gun crime in West Yorkshire at a record high, many people might think local police might have more important things to be focusing on.' Positive discrimination, which has historically been popular in the US, is when a minority candidate is given preferential treatment when applying for a job rather than being judged on merit. This can range all the way to only allowing candidates from a particular minority group to apply for a role. Mr Robins argued in 2023 that positive discrimination in favour of Catholics had succeeded in boosting their representation in the Northern Ireland police service after the Good Friday Agreement. He said: 'It worked in terms of religion in Northern Ireland. We've tried really, really hard over many decades, especially in the last five to 10 years, but there's just systemic issues around applications. I think the time has now come that legislation should change so that we should [use] positive discrimination.' He stressed that this would involve 'no change in [the] standard of recruitment' and would give people from under-represented groups the best opportunity to find employment. This week, The Telegraph disclosed that West Yorkshire Police has delayed white British candidates from applying for jobs as recruits to its police constable entry programmes. As part of the temporary policy, 'under-represented groups' can lodge their applications early. The force admitted on its website that, because of a lack of ethnic minority officers, it accepts 'applications all year round from these under-represented groups' but that white British candidates must wait until 'our recruitment process is open'. A whistleblower has claimed that black and far-east Asian candidates were considered particularly under-represented and given a gold ranking, followed by those of south-east Asian origin who were in the silver tier. 'White others', including candidates from Irish and eastern European backgrounds, were bronze. West Yorkshire Police stresses that nine per cent of its officers are from an ethnic minority background 'while 23 per cent of people in West Yorkshire are from these communities'. Posting on X, Liz Truss, the former prime minister, wrote: 'Britain has a serious problem with police leadership being ideologically captured and pursuing anti-white discrimination. Ministers should have to answer for this and take back the powers to do so. 'Also, Conservatives should have repealed the Equality Act, something I advocated at the time. A lot required to end two-tier Britain.' While positive discrimination is illegal England and Wales, 'positive action' is permitted. All hiring must be done on merit. The Telegraph has found that at least five forces have reacted to this by giving candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds 'bespoke' coaching before they go to job interviews. Asked whether Mr Robins' support for positive discrimination suggested the force may have knowingly breached the law with its policy, the police spokesman said it did not. He said: 'This does not change our position. While the opportunity to apply remains open to certain groups, no applications are progressed to interview stage until the main recruitment window opens. All applications are assessed against the criteria at the same time, in a fair and transparent manner.' Mr Robins has been an officer in West Yorkshire Police for the past 34 years after being recruited as a constable in 1990. He has worked in a number of different roles, including a long period spent as a trained hostage negotiator dealing with suicide interventions, kidnaps and criminal sieges. In 2014, he became the temporary Dept Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, leading on professional standards, ethics and equality. Five years later, he was awarded the top job in the force, as well as being awarded the Queens Police Medal for distinguished service. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, has this week resisted demands from the Tories to end the use of the positive action policy, saying West Yorkshire Police was complying with 'fair recruitment standards'. However, Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, called the policy 'disgraceful', saying: 'People should be treated equally and given equal opportunities. To reject or delay applications just because of someone's skin colour is morally wrong.' Former Tory home secretaries echoed the criticism, with Suella Braverman urging Ms Cooper to get rid of 'dangerous' and 'racist' inequalities from police forces. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
I want to discriminate against white candidates, says police chief
A chief constable accused of having a 'racist' recruitment policy has said he wants discrimination against white British candidates to be legal. Chief Constable John Robins, the head of West Yorkshire Police, said the law should be changed in order to boost the number of ethnic minorities in his force and across the country. It comes as the force faces a backlash for putting a temporary block on the hiring of white candidates – a move that could potentially amount to positive discrimination, which is currently illegal in England and Wales. In a move likely to fuel fresh tensions, Mr Robins said he stood by previous comments that 'legislation should change' so that forces were free to positively discriminate in favour of ethnic minorities. A spokesman said: 'The Chief Constable's position has not changed. It is a national view that he holds.' Neil O'Brien, Conservative MP for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston, said: 'What West Yorkshire police are doing with their racist hiring policies and division of different ethnic groups is skirting the edge of the law. It is no surprise to discover they have been pushing for the law to be changed to legalise these racist hiring policies. 'With gun crime in West Yorkshire at a record high, many people might think local police might have more important things to be focusing on.' Positive discrimination, which has historically been popular in the US, is when a minority candidate is given preferential treatment when applying for a job rather than being judged on merit. This can range all the way to only allowing candidates from a particular minority group to apply for a role. Mr Robins argued in 2023 that positive discrimination in favour of Catholics had succeeded in boosting their representation in the Northern Ireland police service after the Good Friday Agreement. He said: 'It worked in terms of religion in Northern Ireland. We've tried really, really hard over many decades, especially in the last five to 10 years, but there's just systemic issues around applications. I think the time has now come that legislation should change so that we should [use] positive discrimination.' He stressed that this would involve 'no change in [the] standard of recruitment' and would give people from under-represented groups the best opportunity to find employment. This week, The Telegraph disclosed that West Yorkshire Police has delayed white British candidates from applying for jobs as recruits to its police constable entry programmes. As part of the temporary policy, 'under-represented groups' can lodge their applications early. The force admitted on its website that, because of a lack of ethnic minority officers, it accepts 'applications all year round from these under-represented groups' but that white British candidates must wait until 'our recruitment process is open'. A whistleblower has claimed that black and far-east Asian candidates were considered particularly under-represented and given a gold ranking, followed by those of south-east Asian origin who were in the silver tier. 'White others', including candidates from Irish and eastern European backgrounds, were bronze. West Yorkshire Police stresses that nine per cent of its officers are from an ethnic minority background 'while 23 per cent of people in West Yorkshire are from these communities'. Posting on X, Liz Truss, the former prime minister, wrote: 'Britain has a serious problem with police leadership being ideologically captured and pursuing anti-white discrimination. Ministers should have to answer for this and take back the powers to do so. 'Also, Conservatives should have repealed the Equality Act, something I advocated at the time. A lot required to end two-tier Britain.' Tories call policy 'disgraceful' While positive discrimination is illegal England and Wales, 'positive action' is permitted. All hiring must be done on merit. The Telegraph has found that at least five forces have reacted to this by giving candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds 'bespoke' coaching before they go to job interviews. Asked whether Mr Robins' support for positive discrimination suggested the force may have knowingly breached the law with its policy, the police spokesman said it did not. He said: 'This does not change our position. While the opportunity to apply remains open to certain groups, no applications are progressed to interview stage until the main recruitment window opens. All applications are assessed against the criteria at the same time, in a fair and transparent manner.' Mr Robins has been an officer in West Yorkshire Police for the past 34 years after being recruited as a constable in 1990. He has worked in a number of different roles, including a long period spent as a trained hostage negotiator dealing with suicide interventions, kidnaps and criminal sieges. In 2014, he became the temporary Dept Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, leading on professional standards, ethics and equality. Five years later, he was awarded the top job in the force, as well as being awarded the Queens Police Medal for distinguished service. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, has this week resisted demands from the Tories to end the use of the positive action policy, saying West Yorkshire Police was complying with 'fair recruitment standards'. However, Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, called the policy 'disgraceful', saying: 'People should be treated equally and given equal opportunities. To reject or delay applications just because of someone's skin colour is morally wrong.' Former Tory home secretaries echoed the criticism, with Suella Braverman urging Ms Cooper to get rid of 'dangerous' and 'racist' inequalities from police forces.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mayfair announces takeover bid for Gold Basin Resources and Canex Metals
Canada-based Mayfair Acquisition has announced its intention to launch a securities exchange takeover bid to acquire all issued and outstanding shares of Gold Basin Resources and Canex Metals in exchange for its common shares. The move is being facilitated by Discovery Group, a collaboration involving mineral exploration and development companies. The proposed acquisition will potentially form a more robust gold exploration and development company by combining the precious metal assets of Gold Basin and Canex in northern Arizona. Mayfair has outlined an equity financing strategy of between C$2m ($1.4m) and C$6m and a share exchange ratio that will result in a premium for Gold Basin shareholders. The share exchange ratios will be determined based on the post-financing cash value of Mayfair and the rollback ratio. Jim Paterson of Discovery Group has been appointed to Mayfair's Board of Directors. Discovery Group representatives John Robins and Darren Klinck will join upon the successful completion of the bid. Mayfair has not yet commenced the takeover bid. The announcement provides Gold Basin and Canex's boards with additional time to consider the offer and explore strategic alternatives. The bid's acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange is pending, and there is no guarantee it will be granted. The proposed offer follows a history of unsuccessful engagement between Discovery Group representatives and Gold Basin's management. Despite previous recommendations for Gold Basin to pursue merger discussions with Canex, no action was taken, leading to a significant decline in Gold Basin's market capitalisation. Canex has shown interest in engaging with the proposal, but Gold Basin has yet to respond. The lack of response is seen as indicative of Gold Basin's management challenges, which have contributed to its financial difficulties. The offer is contingent on several conditions including TSX Venture acceptance, lock-up agreements from key shareholders and compliance with securities laws. The offer will also depend on the deposit of at least 90% of the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Gold Basin and Canex, among other regulatory and business conditions. "Mayfair announces takeover bid for Gold Basin Resources and Canex Metals" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
