The development of black police associations:changing articulations of race within the police

This paper examines the initial development of Black Police Associations in England and Wales, giving special attention to the first association—the Metropolitan Police Black Police Association. It is argued that a background of change from an individualistic to a collective understanding of race relations within constabularies can be identified in key public documents. This change has had important implications for police understandings of the problems faced by ethnic-minority police staff. A process of change from ethnic minority officers as individuals to membership of an ethnic network and, subsequently, an ethnic association will be analysed. The emergence of Black Police Associations represents a new articulation of race within constabularies and an organizational form of relevance to both the profile and influence of ethnic minority police staff, as well as the managerialism of New Labour, implemented in constabularies by chief officers