PCC attends event to mark one year since Avon and Somerset Police acknowledged institutional racism

PCC Clare Moody attended a police event on Wednesday, which launched a report from Avon and Somerset Police, detailing the work they’ve been doing to become an anti-racist police service since their Chief Constable Sarah Crew’s acknowledgement in June 2023 that the police service is institutionally racist.

PCC Clare Moody said, “It is encouraging to see the Chief Constable Sarah Crew and her team making progress towards becoming an anti-racist police service, and their efforts to push forward this work should be praised.

“The report talks about the changes they are putting in place, including the Chance to Change deferred prosecution scheme, which has proven to reduce racial disparity in young people entering the criminal justice system elsewhere in the country, as well as the creation of a new stop and search policy that is being rolled out, and a programme of cultural awareness training for police officers.

“I am keen we learn from what has gone well in the first year of this work. We need to understand what is working and importantly what is making a difference for people when they interact with their police service, in their day-to-day lives.

“I look forward to following the progress of the Chance to Change model, as it offers young people a chance to get involved with a programme of activity that can give them a new direction and opportunities, rather than entering the criminal justice system.

“I will continue to support and scrutinise this important work through my oversight role in tackling racial disproportionality across the whole of the criminal justice system.”

Desmond Brown is Chair of the Independent Scrutiny Board for the Tackling Racial Disproportionality programme, coordinated by the OPCC.

Desmond Brown said, “Following the publication of my report in 2022 with its 83 recommendations, known as the Tackling Disproportionality report, there has been some apathy from some of the criminal justice system stakeholders and partners.

“There have also emerged genuine champions of change within the programme. Chief Constable Sarah Crew and the Avon and Somerset Police Chief Officer Group stand out as leaders, spearheading this work which is vital for delivering good policing and procedural justice for all.

“Chief Constable Crew recognises that it is no longer enough to not be racist, with an understanding that Avon and Somerset Police must become an actively anti-racist organisation that Black people can trust, for in her words ‘without trust, there is no consent and without consent, we no longer have the legitimacy to police.’”

The full report one year on from Avon and Somerset Police can be found on their website https://media.aspolice.net/uploads/production/20240621133929/Race-Matters-one-year-on-since-IR-declaration-June-24.pdf

Find out more about the OPCC-led multi-agency work to address racial disproportionality throughout the criminal justice system here www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk/working-for-you/tackling-racial-disproportionality/