Met chief says ‘toxicity’ around DEI will not stop him recruiting more black and Asian officers

Mark Rowley says inclusivity is crucial for the force and he refuses to be blown off course' by critics

• Sir Mark Rowley: I will have more police officers of colour in the UK capital - and the culture wars won't stop me doing it

Mark Rowley has said the Metropolitan police must recruit more black and Asian officers in order to gain the trust of minority ethnic communities in London, and vowed not to be blown off course by the culture wars".

The right has criticised drives for diversity, claiming they lead to lower standards. Rowley, who is commissioner of the Met and Britain's top police officer, said that as a leader of a major organisation he was prepared to take a stand against the toxicity" surrounding the diversity debate and criticised other leaders for running away from the subject".