Thames Valley Police has launched a drive to attract more recruits from black, Asian and other minority communities.

The recruitment drive started at the Zee Carnival in London this weekend.

The force wants 10 per cent of its new recruits to come from minority ethnic groups in an attempt to increase the total number of black and Asian officers to 7.6 per cent.

As of November last year, only 4.7 per cent of the force’s staff were black and Asian.

Thames Valley Police Deputy Chief Constable Francis Habgood said: “Throughout 2008, we experienced a steady increase in the number of people from minority ethnic communities joining the force, which is encouraging.

“The people that we serve are increasingly seeing us as an employer that values diversity.”