ABSTRACT
Many of the challenges associated with researching diversity within policing reflect more general issues that need to be addressed in order to produce effective research into law enforcement and criminal justice. Much of the discussion will be rehearsed in the review of police diversity research developed below. The discussion here focuses on two related problems for those interested in researching diversity in policing. First, a significant methodological task needs to be overcome in terms of gathering valid data that authentically represents the values, attitudes and behaviour of police staff in relation to diversity. The major methodological challenge is associated with the considerable body of statistical evidence accumulated through ethnic monitoring practices within criminal justice in England and Wales. The second broad set of problems is conceptual and applies to all methods since the nature of diversity itself is often poorly considered and tends to be treated simplistically in terms of discrete categories.
