ISSUES OF RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY AFFECTING VISIBLE MINORITY ETHNIC POLICE PERSONNEL IN THE WORKPLACE An exploration and critical analysis of issues of religious diversity in the police service with specific reference to an evaluation of the religious needs of, and policies relevant to, police personnel of non-Christian religions in their working environment from the time of the equal opportunities thematic inspection of 1995 to December 2003, the date of the implementation of the European community directives concerning religion and belief. by RICHARD NORRIS ARMITAGE A thesis submitted to The University of Birmingham for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Theology and Religion School of Historical Studies The University of Birmingham September 2006 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. ABSTRACT This thesis focuses on issues of religious diversity affecting police personnel in the workplace. The importance of these issues became apparent as a consequence of research, which I had previously undertaken. In 1995, I succeeded in gaining a Police Research Group Award to investigate chaplaincy within the police service. The research led to the publication of Police Chaplaincy – Servant to the Service. The paper was well received, but criticised for its lack of references to multi-faith chaplaincy to the police service. It was an appropriate criticism, especially as it became apparent that no previous research had addressed this issue. Initial investigation revealed that little, if any, analysis had been offered concerning the wider religious needs of police personnel recruited from the multi-cultural and religiously diverse society of Britain. Research into multi-faith chaplaincy to the police service was only one issue in the overall consideration of the religious needs of police personnel. The focus of my research thesis was therefore determined. The research would examine the multi-faceted issues of religious diversity affecting visible minority ethnic police personnel in the workplace specifically from 1995 to December 2003. This thesis neither engages in theological / philosophical debates concerning the encounter between religions, nor concentrates on theoretical / conceptual discussions. Its primary concern is to augment such discussion with practical and contextual issues that are highlighted in the complex sociological, political and economical contexts of the police service and similar institutions. The research offers a comprehensive and contextual examination of issues of religious diversity which impact on the police service; these issues include ethnicity, religious discrimination, employment law, policy and practice. As these concerns have not been previously examined in such contextual detail, the thesis will contribute to an academic understanding of issues that impact on religious diversity in the working environment and enhance the development of the multi-ethnic society of Britain. As the analysis makes recommendations, the research also offers a useful resource to those responsible for the creation of policies that directly relate to the employment of minority ethnic personnel within the police service. The research is consequently of benefit to the police service and other service providers. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I express my gratitude to Dr Jagbir Jhutti Johal and Dr David Cheetham of the Birmingham University Graduate Institute for Theology and Religion for their supportive and affirming supervision of my research and its presentation. I also thank all who shared with me essential information relevant to the research, particularly those officers and staff who agreed to be interviewed and who offered me their support and encouragement. Finally, I thank the people of Evesham Parish Church of All Saints for their unstinting interest and commitment to the subject of my research and the development of this thesis. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE - LITERATURE SURVEY ............................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Determining the choice of relevant research .......................................... 1 1.1.2 An overview of the chapter..................................................................... 3 1.2 Religious pluralism: setting the scene ......................................................... 5 1.2.1 Religious discrimination in twentieth century Europe............................ 5 1.2.2 Religious diversity: the challenge........................................................... 7 1.2.3 Religious diversity: the benefits.............................................................. 8 1.3 Religion, ethnicity and culture.................................................................. 10 1.3.1 Introductory comment........................................................................... 10 1.3.2 Religion and ethnicity........................................................................... 11 1.3.3 Ethnicity, religion and politics.............................................................. 12 1.3.4 Religious identity in first and second generations ................................ 14 1.3.5 Culture and religion .............................................................................. 16 1.3.6 Concluding comment............................................................................ 17 1.4 The police and issues of race and diversity............................................... 19 1.4.1 Construction ethnicity and ‘Race Riots’............................................... 19 1.4.2 The Notting Hill Riots .......................................................................... 22 1.4.3 The Brixton Disorders........................................................................... 24 1.4.4 The Broadwater Farm Disturbances ..................................................... 27 1.4.5 The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report ................................................ 29 1.4.6 The Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain....................................................... 32 1.4.7 Winning the Race.................................................................................. 34 1.4.8 Concluding comment............................................................................ 38 1.5 Pastoral and spiritual care in religiously diverse situations ................... 40 1.5.1 Changing needs..................................................................................... 40 1.5.2 The challenge to the Christian Church.................................................. 41 1.5.3 Chaplaincy within prisons..................................................................... 42 1.5.4 Chaplaincy within hospitals.................................................................. 44 1.5.5 Concluding comment............................................................................ 45 1.6 In conclusion: a summary of the chapter, methodology and an overview of the thesis .............................................................................................................. 46 1.6.1 A summary of the chapter..................................................................... 46 1.6.2 The thesis structure ............................................................................... 50 1.6.3 Methodology......................................................................................... 52 1.6.4 Research of force policy ....................................................................... 53 1.6.5 Methodological approach to interviews................................................ 53 1.6.6 A critical evaluation of the interview process....................................... 55 CHAPTER TWO - RACE RELATIONS LEGISLATION AND THE HOME SECRETARY’S EMPLYOMENT TARGETS........................................................ 60 2.1 An overview of the chapter ........................................................................ 60 2.2 The development of race relations legislation .......................................... 62 2.2.1 Introductory comment........................................................................... 62 2.2.2 Race relations legislation ...................................................................... 63 2.2.3 Legislation and religious discrimination............................................... 68 2.2.4 The European Community Employment Directive .............................. 72 2.2.5 Concluding comment............................................................................ 77 2.3 Recruitment, retention and career progression targets: the context ..... 79 2.3.1 Introductory comments ......................................................................... 79 2.3.2 Recruitment........................................................................................... 80 2.3.3 Retention..............................................................................................