FOI Bombshell: West Yorkshire Police’s £1.5 Million Diversity Spend—But Is It Making a Difference?
Shocking FOI figures expose over £1.2 million spent annually by one force alone on diversity roles, raising serious questions about effectiveness and accountability across the UK.
Shocking FOI figures expose over £1.2 million spent annually by one force alone on diversity roles, raising serious questions about effectiveness and accountability across the UK.
A recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request has shed light on the growing financial commitment to diversity and inclusion within West Yorkshire Police (WYP), sparking serious questions about effectiveness and accountability. With over £1.2 million spent annually on salaries for diversity-focused roles and an additional £361,000 allocated for training, the figures are significant.
But if similar investments have been made across all 43 police forces in England and Wales for at least the last 15 years, the total expenditure could well exceed £800 million. And yet, despite these sustained efforts, we are still being told that the UK’s police forces are "institutionally racist." So what exactly has been achieved??
The Breakdown: Who’s Getting Paid and for What?
According to the FOI response, WYP currently employs a Head of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion on a £91,536 salary alongside a Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Manager earning £57,252. Supporting these roles are three Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Officers, each on £45,924 per year, and six Positive Action Ambassadors, uniformed officers earning £59,844 per person.
The structure also includes a DEI Communications and Marketing Lead (£53,412), a DEI Communications and Marketing Officer (£42,492), and two administrative assistants, each costing £30,912 per year. Then there are various officers under the ‘Positive Action’ initiative, including a Positive Action T/Inspector (£94,272) and a Positive Action Sergeant (£79,716).
The total annual wage bill? Over £1.2 million.
External Training Costs: £361,000 and Counting
Beyond salaries, WYP has engaged at least one external provider for additional equality and diversity training, with the current contract valued at £361,000. Apparently, this figure has yet to be finalized, meaning the cost could rise further.
If this level of spending is mirrored across all 43 police forces, the national expenditure on external equality and diversity training alone could exceed £15 million annually.
A Question of Effectiveness
With such substantial investment, it is reasonable to ask: What tangible results have these roles and training initiatives delivered? Despite this sustained funding, police forces continue to face accusations of being institutionally racist, most notably in the Casey Review and the Macpherson Report before it.
Why do these accusations persist if these diversity-focused roles have been embedded for over a decade? Have these initiatives truly improved policing, or are they merely a costly box-ticking exercise? The public deserves transparency—where has this money gone, and what are the measurable outcomes?
Is This Spending Justified?
Few would argue against diversity in policing, but the core issue is value for money. If millions have been spent over the years without tangible improvements, it raises the question of whether these initiatives are actually working or merely prolonging bureaucracy without addressing root issues.
Got a story or video to share? Need to get something off your chest?
Our team of experienced former emergency services and armed forces personnel wants to hear from you! With 300,000 monthly views, your story could reach a wide audience. Email us at contact@emergency-services.news.
Policing is currently facing a recruitment crisis, resource shortages, and record levels of resignations. Many frontline officers are struggling with excessive workloads, understaffing in response teams, and increasing levels of violent crime. Yet, in this climate, forces continue to invest heavily in diversity-focused roles, even as their overall effectiveness remains unclear.
A £14 Million Deficit – Where Should the Money Go?
Adding to these concerns, it has been reported that West Yorkshire Police is facing a £14 million budget deficit for the 2025/26 financial year. With public finances stretched, it raises serious questions about where taxpayer money is being spent. Many believe that resources should be directed towards frontline policing, ensuring that communities have more officers on the streets, quicker response times, and improved crime prevention. As we keep hearing about teenagers losing their lives to stabbings, why on earth aren't more resources being put into stopping the tidal wave of teenage knife crime that is sweeping across the country instead?
At a time when funding shortfalls threaten core police services, should WYP—and other forces—be re-evaluating their spending priorities? Does the public truly benefit from an extensive diversity and inclusion infrastructure, or would communities rather see increased investment in frontline officers, crime reduction initiatives, and victim support services?
If I have to call 999 because I need the police, the only thing that matters to me is their ability to respond swiftly and effectively. I do not care about the colour of their skin, their background, or any diversity quotas—they need to be competent, trained and prepared to enforce the law without fear or favour. The focus should always be on ensuring that the best candidates are recruited and retained, not on fulfilling bureaucratic mandates that may do little to enhance public safety.
The Call for Accountability The FOI data from West Yorkshire Police is just one snapshot, but it reflects a wider national issue. If police forces are still accused of institutional racism despite 15 years of heavy investment in diversity initiatives, then taxpayers deserve to know: What has been achieved? Where has the money gone? And is this expenditure truly making a difference in improving policing for all communities?
The time for scrutiny is now. Accountability should not be an afterthought—it should be the foundation of every publicly funded initiative. After all, it is our money that is being spent, not theirs.
Opinion: Frontline Policing Deserves More Than Diversity Dividends
The recent FOI revelations about West Yorkshire Police's spending on diversity roles, with an annual sum exceeding £1.2 million and further costs on training, should send shockwaves through every taxpayer's conscience. When crime rates are soaring, and public trust in policing is hanging by a thread, it's high time we reassess where our police budgets are going. Instead of pouring money into bureaucratic diversity roles, shouldn't we be focusing on bolstering our frontline with more officers equipped to tackle crime?
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to ESN Report to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.