CLEVELAND Police is 'institutionally racist' and its black and minority officers 'suffer a catalogue of horrors', evidence given to a Government inquiry has suggested.

The National Black Police Association's (NBPA) written evidence to the Macpherson Report: Twenty Years On inquiry said there was still racism two decades later, and specifically named Cleveland Police.

NBPA President Tola Munro said: "I have been asked repeatedly whether Institutional Racism still exists in policing. My predecessors and I have named Cleveland Police as meeting that criteria over a period of time."

In evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee's inquiry, the NBPA said: "We continue to witness black and minority ethnic officers in Cleveland Constabulary suffer a catalogue of horrors."

It gave examples of race discrimination tribunals there and disciplinary proceedings against Sergeant Waseem Khan being dropped midway through when it came to light that one officer had been threatened with disciplinary proceedings if he didn't give evidence against his colleague.

It also lists the unlawful 'grabbing' of the phone records of former officers and journalists from The Northern Echo.

But Cleveland Police's deputy chief constable Helen McMillan said: "Racism is not tolerated at Cleveland Police and as a force we have never been found - through any judicial process - to be ‘institutionally racist’. Where past mistakes have been made these have helped shape us into the organisation we are today and we will continue to work with the NBPA and others to ensure we are inclusive, fair and above all dedicated to treating all people equally without favouritism or discrimination.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger said: “Cleveland Police has come a long way since May 2016 when Chief Constable Iain Spittal gave a full and frank contribution to the Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry on this very topic.

“Since then, the Force has committed to a programme of ambitious and extensive organisational and cultural development through the Everyone Matters programme, which came as the result of strategic directions I set for the organisation in 2015.

“Everyone Matters has improved the way the Force engages with diverse communities, including the introduction of a Refugee and Asylum Seeker Coordinator, Community Cohesion Officer and two dedicated hate crime investigators. Internally, the increased presence of staff networks and improvements in professional standards have contributed to my ambition of making Cleveland Police an employer of choice for all who wish to have a career in policing.

“In October 2018 Cleveland Police became the first police force in the country to receive an independent gold standard for equality at the Equality North East Awards, a testament to the deep-rooted ethos change within the organisation.

“In every part of my life, I have endeavoured to root out inequality wherever I see it. That’s why maintaining and developing the progress of the Everyone Matters programme is at the very heart of my Police and Crime Plan.

“We mustn’t become complacent and it is imperative that the next Chief Constable of Cleveland Police has the same passion I have to create a working environment that is supportive and inclusive of all and enables officers and staff to develop and flourish.”