Racist bullying of BAME (Black and Asian Minority Ethnic) women within police services in England: Race, gender and police culture

Abstract

This article examines the hidden and under-researched area of bullying and harassment of Black and Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) women in the police service in England. It discusses the impact of a historical policy failure to acknowledge the importance of intersectionality in matters of diversity and the continuing struggle between race and gender. This contributes to the ‘invisibility and sexualization’ of BAME women in policing. In doing so, it makes BAME women susceptible to unique tactics of bullying and harassment that contribute to their impeded progression compared with their White counterparts. These unique tactics are enhanced by the police organization and enforced by police culture. The article concludes that the bullying and harassment of BAME women are underpinned by issues of patriarchy and racism that are difficult to challenge in a bureaucratic and hierarchical organization like the police.