Home Office on course to meet recruitment and retention diversity targets for staff from ethnic minorities

Targets for the recruitment and retention of staff from minority ethnic communities are on course to be met across the core Home Office, a report published today revealed.

The eighth annual Race Employment Targets Report shows progress against the Home Office's 10-year race equality employment targets. The Border and Immigration Agency, Identity and Passport Service, the Forensic Science Service and the core Home Office areas all exceeded their aims.

The news comes just days after a new mentoring scheme aimed at preparing black and minority ethnic (BME) staff for leadership roles in the Civil Service has been put into action.

Home secretary Jacqui Smith said: "Having a diverse workforce at the Home Office is essential if we are to improve our understanding of the communities we serve and increase public confidence in the services we provide."

The police service continues to make progress towards its overall 2009 target of 7%, with 3.9% of officers currently minority ethnic. The individual targets for special constables and police staff, both at 7%, were met during 2007.

The race equality employment targets were introduced in 1999, with the objective of ensuring that staffing in the Home Office and its public services, such as the Border and Immigration Agency, reflect the communities in which they are based.