Final report: Voicing Diversity

This project explores diversity within the Belgian police. More specifically, we focus on officers with a migrant background. We interviewed these officers in order to acquire insights into how they see their role within the organization and how they engage with migrant minorities. We also organized focus groups with civil society organizations representing citizens with a migrant background to discuss how they perceive the work of the police and especially the work of officers with a similar background. Lastly, we conducted a survey to investigate if diversity policies exist in local police zones and if so, how they are manifested. Our research reveals that even though some local diversity initiatives and policies exist, a comprehensive and well-integrated diversity plan is missing within the police organization. As a result, people with a migration background may experience barriers to entering the police organization and to fully integrating within it. Greater attention to existing diversity issues and the importance of diversity in the police is needed to achieve a more diverse police organization.