I think this is the first time this forum has tackled such an inherently sensitive and important issue.
I suspect the BBC's figures are rather atypical of UK employers generally. This is possibly because they're under enormous pressure from Government and the competing media, not least the venomous bile ejaculated by the DFM's editor.
B2R: you're talking positive discrimination when you say
"Proportionately to the population then there should be an equal amount of people from each ethnicity working in any given role". Opponents of positive discrimination claim it runs counter to the concept that it should always be the best person for the job irrespective of race, colour, creed or gender preference.
The question which then arises is do we assume a homogeneity of ability, intellect, desire and talent in all communities?
I suspect it's not helped when groups such as West Mercia Police release this sort of thing in relation to those suspected of having thrown acid at a three year old:
"West Mercia Police said it would not be releasing the identities of the men who have been charged." The question that arises is why have they not done that?
We're currently in what's become a six week long heatwave - and it's not just here; around the globe countries are experiencing above average temperatures and below average rainfall. Why am I mentioning this? Because every serious civil disturbance in the UK over the last fifty years has occurred during hot and dry weather. And most have been linked to deprivation or race.
The reason the UK has strong legislation in place in respect of racially-aggravated crimes and race relations in general is precisely because society can break down if sufficient groups believe they are being treated unfairly.
The flip side of that particular coin is that the cultural aspirations of some groups are so wildly different to what we often see as the 'Traditional English village' ethos, assimilation of those groups does present enormous challenges.
As an aside millions, possibly billions, have been killed in the name of religion, because they spoke a different language or because their skin was a different shade to the person wielding the sword / gun / bow / machete. It seems, therefore, that the greatest threat to society is posed by religion, language and colour.