AN ASIAN police chief has admitted it is impossible for ethnic communities to be properly represented among his officers.

Tarique Ghaffur, assistant chief constable of Lancashire Police and the country's highest-ranking Asian officer, said a series of issues was causing problems in the recruitment of black and ethnic officers.

He said these included the image of the police service and the competition of other employers.

But he said it was vital that a proactive approach was adopted to encourage young people to join the force.

Since becoming the first ethnic minority officer to join Greater Manchester Police at 18, Mr Ghaffur has risen through the ranks to become the only Asian chief officer in the UK.

He currently has responsibility for human resources and oversees a workforce of 3,312 officers in Lancashire, of which 38 are ethnic minority. His comments come after the Lancashire branch of the Black Police Association was formed last week to represent ethnic minority officers.

Mr Ghaffur told Police Review magazine that it was impossible for the force to be fully representative of the 5.9 per cent of the population which comprised people of an ethnic minority.

He said: "The problem we have is that members of ethnic minority groups don't apply.

"The only way we can make an inroad is to be proactive in encouraging people to apply.

"The police must work to remove the negative perceptions and improve its image, particularly with the youth.

"We are working more closely with councillors, educational establishments and career officers as they also have a major role to play in assisting us. We cannot increase representation on our own."

He said Lancashire Police was hoping to attract about 90 extra officers from ethnic communities during the next five years.

Mr Ghaffur also said police bosses needed to challenge officers who indulged in "racist banter".

He said in the past he had been the brunt of racist comments from the public and "barbed comments" from officers.

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