UK cops axe target for recruiting minorities

London, Feb.21 (ANI): Police in Britain have been told that they will no longer be asked to meet a target for recruiting ethnic minorities.

The change means a white man of similar ability to a black or Asian job rival should no longer lose out by default, reports The Sun.

Quotas were brought in after a report in 1999 on Stephen Lawrence's race-hate murder branded the force "institutionally racist".

The proportion of recruits from ethnic minorities has since doubled - but is still well below the percentage they make up of the country's population.

Police minister Vernon Coaker has now axed the targets.

The Association of Chief Police Officers, who said it was no longer fair to brand the force racist, welcomed the move.

Stephen, 18, was stabbed in Eltham, South London, in 1993. No one has been convicted. (ANI)