Are police forces in England and Wales institutionally racist? Fierce disagreements about that question among chief constables have held up publication of the Police Plan of Action on Inclusion and Race. The Plan, jointly devised by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing, is being overseen by an independent panel. The Panel Chair, Abi Johnson, has said previously that “acknowledgement of institutional racism is important”.

PolicingTV brought together three police and crime commissioners (PCCs) to discuss whether they believe the term applies to the forces in each of their areas – David Lloyd, Conservative PCC for Hertfordshire, David Sidwick, Conservative PCC for Dorset and Emily Spurrell, Labour PCC for Merseyside.

In the latest edition of Talking Crime, Chief Presenter Danny Shaw also asked the trio of PCCs about police recruitment, criminal justice system reform – and why certain types of offending appear to be on the rise: