Self defined ethnicity (SDE) codes are a set of codes used by the Home Office in the United Kingdom to classify an individual's ethnicity according to that person's self-definition.
The codes are also called "18 + 1" codes, as there are 18 of them, plus one code (NS) for "not stated".[1] In addition to the previously used 16+1 codes, they contain the categories W3 and O2, while A4 is now replacing O1 (Chinese).[2]
The code system originated in the United Kingdom Census 2001 based on Recommendation 61 of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report (SLIR).[2][3]
British police forces are required to use the SDE 18+1 codes (as opposed to the commonly used radio shorthand IC codes) when spoken contact has taken place and an individual has been given an opportunity to state their self-perceived ethnicity.
List of SDE codes
- W1 – British
 - W2 – Irish
 - W3 – Gypsy or Irish Traveller
 - W9 – Any other White background
 
- Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups
 
- M1 – White and Black Caribbean
 - M2 – White and Black African
 - M3 – White and Asian
 - M9 – Any other Mixed or Multiple background
 
- A1 – Indian
 - A2 – Pakistani
 - A3 – Bangladeshi
 - A4 – Chinese
 - A9 – Any other Asian background
 
- Other ethnic groups
 
- O2 – Arab
 - O9 – Any other ethnic group
 
- Not stated
 
- NS – Not Stated.
 
See also
External links
References
- ↑ "Criminal Justice System Exchange Data Standards Catalogue, Version 6" (PDF). GOV.UK. HM Government. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
 - 1 2 The code systems used within the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to formally record ethnicity. 2 March 2007.
 - ↑ The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry. February 1999.