Why is Ucas pigeonholing students into ethnic groups?

David Lammy is upset again, as he is every week. This time it is thanks to data released by Ucas, which reveals that while black applicants make up nine per cent of the total, they account for 52 per cent of those whose applications have been flagged up for possible cheating – either because they may have falsified qualifications, used fake identities, sent false documents or because an algorithm has picked out their personal statement. According to Lammy, it is not good enough Ucas simply publishing this data – he says that the organisation ‘needs to be able to explain this huge disproportionality and satisfy students from ethnic minorities that their applications will be looked upon fairly’.

I think we can take it for granted what Lammy really wants: for Ucas to apologise, admit to some unspecified form of institutional bias and send its staff for diversity training – effectively making them think twice before they dare to accuse a black applicant of trying to cheat the system.