Police force slammed for spending over £1.4million on 'woke' roles

A police force that sacked the head of a hate crime panel over a comment concerning what she described as 'Islamic terrorism' has been slammed for spending over £1.4million on 'woke roles'. 

West Yorkshire Police recently fired the head of a hate crime panel in Bradford after she described Islamic terrorism as the 'elephant in the room' after an attack on a synagogue.

The woman, a retired academic in her 60s, said the letter she received informing her of her removal from the panel 'sounded like a threat.'

Meanwhile the force employed 19 uniformed and civilian staff in diversity roles spending the equivalent of 46 police constables' salaries on diversity and inclusion.

Responding to a Freedom of Information request last year, West Yorkshire Police disclosed that it had a head of diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) earning £91,536.

Alongside that role they also hired a DEI manager on £57,252, three DEI officers on £45,924 each, two administrative assistants for DEI and positive action on £30,912 each.

Meanwhile, a DEI communications and marketing lead was paid £53,412, and a DEI communications and marketing officer £42,492.

West Yorkshire Police recently employed 19 uniformed and civilian staff in diversity roles spending the equivalent of 46 police constables' salaries on diversity and inclusion

In addition, it had a uniformed positive action inspector on £94,272, a positive action sergeant on £79,716, a positive action progression officer on £45,924 and six uniformed positive action ambassadors on £59,844 each.

The force also employed a dedicated equality and diversity trainer on staff at a cost of £45,924 and on top of this paid £361,000 to an external firm to provide training sessions.

There has been an intense debate about DEI training for police officers following the murder of student Henry Nowak who was handcuffed and arrested as he lay dying from stab wounds.

It later emerged that officers in the force responsible for the arrest of Henry Nowak felt 'controlled and pressured to feel certain ways' by mandatory diversity training.

The courses taught Hampshire & Isle of Wight constabulary officers and staff about racism, 'unconscious bias' and 'privilege and the importance of being an ally.'

Politicians have criticised so-called woke measures and suggested they contributed to the Henry Nowak incident.

Former home secretary Jack Straw has warned the police that anti-racism guidelines have gone too far since he oversaw the inquiry into the Stephen Lawrence murder more than 25 years ago.

Last month HM Inspector of Constabulary said it had concerns about some aspects of West Yorkshire Police's work, including how it investigated crime.

Teenager Henry Nowak died after being stabbed, with handcuffs on his wrists, blood filling his lungs, and mockery in his ears from the officers at the scene

Michelle Skeer, the HM chief inspector of constabulary, said: 'I have concerns about how it is managing demand, investigating crime, and safeguarding children and adults at risk of harm. We found that some governance meetings weren’t taking place or were ineffective. We also found some examples of poor leadership.'

The force was deemed to be adequate in relation to dealing with crime and protecting the public from crime.

William Yarwood, the campaigns director at the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'Spending the equivalent of 46 police officers' salaries on diversity bureaucracy is impossible to justify when communities want more visible policing and better crime prevention.

'Taxpayers expect police forces to prioritise catching criminals and keeping streets safe, not building sprawling DEI departments complete with managers, ambassadors and marketing staff.

'West Yorkshire Police should scale back these roles and redirect the savings into frontline policing.'

Figures have recently revealed a five-fold increase in the number of West Yorkshire Police officers and staff committing sackable offences. 

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 Eight WYP officers and staff were found to have committed gross misconduct in 2020, with the number rising to 42 in 2025.

A spokesperson for WYP said to the Mail: 'As the fourth largest police force in England, West Yorkshire Police is committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diverse communities it serves.

'Central to this ambition is continued investment in resources that enhance cultural understanding, build trust and confidence, and deliver improved outcomes for all residents and visitors across the region.

'To support this, the Force maintains a Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) team.

'The team has reduced in size in line with organisational demand, efficiency requirements and wider transformation programmes and operates within a budget of £910,707. It remains a key contributor to workforce development and is also a key contributor to His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Service areas of focus too.

'The DEI team plays a vital role in strengthening workforce skills and deepening understanding of the needs of West Yorkshire’s diverse communities.

'This enables the organisation to deliver fair, effective and responsive policing, particularly in the context of increasingly complex challenges faced across policing.

'This work is not focused on any single issue or group. Instead, it is about ensuring that policing services are accessible, equitable and effective for everyone.

'This includes supporting victims with varied and complex needs, responding appropriately to individuals experiencing mental health crises, protecting those at risk of exploitation, and working collaboratively with communities from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances.'