I AM sorry to see that the Chief Constable of Hampshire, Andy Marsh, has fallen into the trap of eulogising Black History Month (October 22).

More seriously, he is also seeking to boost his force numbers by appealing to certain racial categories. This is worse than political correctness, it is misconceived and runs counter to the principle of community integration.

There is something rather unfair and even obnoxious about overemphasising racial differences, whether attempting to teach “black history” in the classroom or recruiting for business or public office.

If Mr Marsh wished to improve his rates of recruitment and retention he should encourage applications from everyone, regardless of their social or ethnic background.

Candidates for selection should be the best people for the job, without reference to physical, racial, religious or cultural characteristics – male or female, white or black, Christian or Muslim, Hindu, Jew, gay or straight: it should not matter.

It is not the business of a senior policeman to try to engineer a situation where membership of his organisation matches, even approximately, the make-up of British society as a whole.

The criteria should be to choose the best person for the job – no more and no less.

DOROTHY FUDGE, Totton.