Cops forked out at least £631 million on diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) activities over the last six years, a report by Policy Exchange estimated.

Police forces have been accused of spending more than half a billion pounds on their “obsession” with diversity schemes instead of protecting crime victims.

Cops forked out at least £631 million on diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) activities over the last six years, a report by Policy Exchange estimated.

This could have instead funded around an additional 2,000 frontline police officers every year, the think tank said.

The report’s author warned “the fundamental legitimacy of British policing is at stake”.

David Spencer, a former Metropolitan Police detective chief inspector, said: “Policy Exchange today reveals the astonishing cost of the police’s DEI obsession – at least £631 million over the last six years.

“Police forces have sought to entrench the radical ideology of ‘anti-racism’ into British policing. In doing so some police chiefs have set policing against its own foundational principle – to act ‘without fear or favour’.