The Changing Face of Policing. What Europe’s Demographic Transformation Means for Law Enforcement

Starting his career with the Greater Manchester Police in 1974, he steadily climbed the ranks, soon becoming the best-known officer of Asian descent in London’s Metropolitan Police; he eventually retired as Assistant Commissioner of Central Operations.

Ghaffur’s life trajectory testifies to the openness of European police departments, his story being a not uncommon one on the continent.

In precincts from Stockholm to Paris, London to Vienna, officers from immigrant backgrounds are joining law enforcement in greater numbers, mirroring the demographic shifts reshaping European societies. But while this may translate into greater representation and possibly trust in law enforcement in immigrant communities (where crime is often high), it also raises complex questions.

Will increased diversity lead to more effective policing, or will it simply lead to the amplification of the internal divisions of society at large?

Recruitment and Representation

It has fast become a matter of policy to increase the number of police officers with a migrant-background. National efforts, such as the UK Metropolitan Police’s recruitment targets and Sweden’s ”diversity and inclusion” strategy, incorporate recruitment targets and cultural competence training. The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has also backed more inclusive forces, lending Brussels’ support to the goal of more ethnic and religious representation among police..

The rationale one often hears for this is that it will reduce discrimination, but as the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) admits, national data is spotty. Indeed, reports such as the Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (SOCTA) omit ethnic origin, although the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan 2020-2025 has promoted data collection to build public trust and institutional efficiency.

As an example, the UK Home Office publishes diversity data and race equality reports for the Police Workforce, England and Wales series. Collaborative surveys with the College of Policing have documented pressures on ethnic minority officers. A 2016 Home Affairs Select Committee report and the 2019 Workforce Bulletin—estimating that 15-25% of minority officers experience identity-related stress—have agreed on a 20% figure, a reflection of ongoing debates about diversity in British policing. The proportion of police officers from ethnic minority backgrounds in England and Wales increased from 3.5% to 8.4% between 2005 to 2024. However, as of 2021, white Britons were still overrepresented among police officers compared to the general population.

Germany faces similar disparities. A study by Mediendienst Integration found that individuals with migrant backgrounds remain underrepresented in the police force.

Double-Loyalty and Discrimination

There is evidence for cultural conflict within police forces as a direct result of their diversification, as one observes the phenomenon of suspected double-loyalty on the part of migrant-background officers, which can lead to their being “tested” by fellow police officers. One Swedish member of law enforcement reported:

“There are some groups with very strong internal bonds…I think that it is more difficult for them to work as police. Their countrymen demand that they help them. [A colleague] has told me that he is sometimes seen as a traitor. They expect favours. It is the same thing when we have brought in individuals from their ethnic group. Then their relatives call this guy and try to fish for information. It is just their tradition. They take it for granted…that is how they help each other.”

And a young office of Middle Eastern origin reflected that: “One feels split between the two sides. Your family expects things from you and your police colleagues maybe expect other things from you. And the police expect that in that…you will be on your family’s side, so you are automatically put under suspicion.”

The fact that persons from migrant communities often commit crimes at higher rates than the general population in Europe, only complicates matters further.

In addition, initiatives that work towards a more representational police force risk political backclash; this can occur in the context of policies that also discriminate in favour of criminals from an immigrant background, as is suggested by new UK sentencing guidelines that seek lower sentences for ethnic minorities.

This transformation is more than a numbers game. Diversity in the ranks may improve trust in some communities, but without proper integration, it risks worsening tensions within police forces themselves. As Europe’s police forces evolve, so too must their approach to policing a continent in flux. The outcome will shape not just law enforcement, but the country’s very social cohesion.

Statement

Across Europe, police forces are increasingly recruiting officers from immigrant backgrounds. Initiatives like the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan and national recruitment targets aim to boost representation. However, challenges remain, including internal divisions, the question of double-loyalty, and concerns over effective integration, raising questions about whether greater diversity will better the community’s trust as well as policing.

Weekly