Police Race Action Plan: Working with communities for fair policing

Dear community members,

It is now two and a half years since we launched the Police Race Action Plan, a national commitment to address the long‑standing issues of disproportionality, over‑policing, and under-protection of Black and Black heritage communities.

Across West Yorkshire, we are working with communities, partners, and our own workforce to build trust, fairness, and understanding. While we are encouraged by the steps being taken, we are clear that there is still much more to do, and lasting change will only happen through continued openness, challenge, and collaboration.

Since launching the Police Race Action Plan, we have begun making practical changes across West Yorkshire. This includes introducing more inclusive uniform options, improving how stop and search is used, strengthening engagement with Black and Black heritage communities, and increasing representation within our workforce. We’ve also worked closely with schools, faith groups, charities, and community partners to improve understanding, transparency, and accountability. While these steps matter, we recognise that this is ongoing work and that trust is built over time.

You can read a full breakdown of our progress, local updates, and data on the Police Race Action Plan on our website here: Police Race Action Plan: May 2026 progress update | West Yorkshire Police

You can watch a video about the work happening across each area of West Yorkshire here: Police Race Action Plan May Update 2026

If you would like to play a more active role, you can also find information on how to get involved by joining an Independent Scrutiny and Advisory Group, helping to challenge, influence, and shape our approach to fair policing. More information about that can be found here: https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/about-us/diversity-equality-and-inclusion/police-race-action-plan#involved