To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many black and Asian officers have applied to become a Commander or Deputy Assistant Commissioner in the Metropolitan Police in the last four years; and how many have been successful. (129059)

In the last four years the Metropolitan Police Authority has held three competitions for Commander posts and four for Deputy Assistant Commissioner posts. For the Commander posts a total of 53 applications were made and 18 officers were appointed. Two of the applicants were from minority ethnic groups; one of those applicants applied on two occasions. Neither applicant was successful.

For the Deputy Assistant Commissioner posts a total of 41 applications were made and 12 officers were appointed. One of the applicants was from a minority ethnic group; that applicant applied on all four occasions but was not successful.