Survey Questionnaire on Gender & Ethnicity (WM Police)
source: Catalyst/Clive Coley
published: 10 August 2026
Catalyst 4 Change is working with West Midlands Police on the Police Race Action Plan (PRAP).
As part of this collaboration, we are supporting a community-based questionnaire that explores two issues: why some police staff may feel unsure about asking questions on gender and ethnicity, and why some Black and Mixed Heritage community members may feel hesitant to share this information.
We are sharing this questionnaire with our members and encourage eligible people to take part.
This survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
About the survey:
The survey is part of a study exploring attitudes towards the collection of ethnicity and gender information by the Black and Mixed Heritage communities. It is open to people who are:
- are 18 or over;
- identify as Black or Mixed Heritage
- Live in England and Wales
Survey link: Understanding the Collection of Ethnicity & Gender Data from Black/Mixed Heritage Citizens - click here
Closing date: 31 December 2026
The research will look at how people feel when asked to provide demographic information, why they think this information is collected and what might affect their willingness to share it. It will also explore trust in how police use ethnicity and gender data, concerns people may have about providing this information, and what would help build confidence in the process.
The finding will help identify ways to improve communication, transparency, and data collection practices, so that demographic information is gathered respectfully and used to support fair and equitable outcomes.
Who is leading the survey?
The research is being conducted on behalf of Birmingham City University by Dr Sharda Murria, Associate Professor of Criminology and Policing. The has been approved by the Law, Social and Criminal Justice Research Ethics Committee and the West Midlands Police Academy.
