UK police required to write 500-word anti-racism essays as part of DEI training

[noumoe]

https://humanevents.com/2026/07/19/uk-p ... aign=64483

UK police required to write 500-word anti-racism essays as part of DEI training
Officers with Surrey Police are required to write 500-word reflections on topics including the force’s stance on racism and lessons covering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

by: Hayden Cunningham 07/19/2026

Police officers in the United Kingdom are being required to complete written essays on anti-racism as part of their training.

According to a report by The Telegraph, officers with Surrey Police are required to write 500-word reflections on topics including the force’s stance on racism and lessons covering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Additionally, officers at Northamptonshire Police are also taught during training that Brexit contributed to a raise in far-right hate, while officers in London’s police hosted a “listening circle” about Gaza.

The report follows another published last month concerning mandatory DEI training within Hampshire Police. 15.5 percent of officers with Hampshire Police said they felt “controlled” or “pressured” during the sessions, while 14.3 percent said they believe that “if I made a mistake, it would have been held against me.”

The debate over diversity training within British police forces comes after the brutal killing of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, whom police handcuffed while being fatally stabbed because his attacker falsely claimed racial abuse. The incident has continued to draw allegations of “two-tier policing” within the country.


Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy emphasized how the Conservative Party has called for ending the public sector equality duty, which says that public bodies must give “due regard” to eliminating discrimination.

“The growth of DEI training in the police, justice system and wider public sector is alarming. Much of this so-called ‘training’, whether on unconscious bias, gender or institutional racism, is pure Left-wing ideology,” he said. “It’s this culture that leads to the kind of two-tier policing we witnessed with the handling of Henry Nowak’s murder. We need to abolish the public sector equality duty, which lies behind so much of this.”

“But we also need to completely change the culture of the police and justice system, abolish DEI officers, stop the waste of taxpayers’ money and focus on fighting crime,” he added.

The Telegraph also reported that Northamptonshire Police spent £11,644.30 in 2025-26 on externally sourced DEI training. That is on top of eight full-time DEI staff members that cost £405,000 annually, which include a “culture change strategic lead,” a “senior equality officer,” and a “neurodiversity lead.” A spokesperson for the Northamptonshire police said it is “committed to ensuring their workforces have the knowledge and skills required to serve all communities fairly, effectively and in accordance with the law.”