Report due on Avon & Somerset Police efforts to tackle racism
It comes a year after the Chief Constable declared her own force "institutionally racist"
A report is due out highlighting how Avon and Somerset Police is trying to improve, one year after the force declared itself institutionally racist.
Chief Constable Sarah Crew made the claim in June 2023, before beginning a period of consultation with communities on how things should change.
One such update Greatest Hits Radio understands, is a new policy on Stop and Search.
Chief Constable Sarah Crew said: “When I made the statement on institutional racism, I said I would come back in one year to update on the progress we have made, to back my words with action.
“The report we are publishing documents the activity that has taken place since then and, importantly, sets out how we will continue our progress in becoming a truly anti-racist organisation; maintaining momentum to improve trust and confidence in communities where it is most needed.
“Had I not acknowledged that institutional racism exists in the organisation, I’m sure the work we are doing in this area would not have been successful – the communities most directly affected by it would not trust us, work with us or take us at our word.
"Without trust there is no consent, and without consent we no longer have legitimacy to police. It is this simple. It is fundamental."
The force claims significant progress has been made, including through the introduction of a new deferred prosecution scheme called Chance to Change and cultural awareness training for staff, as well as the new stop and search policy.
In the past year, Avon and Somerset Police have been working with Creative Power Town (CPT), a community interest company (CIC) based in St Pauls in Bristol, to create online content that will help children and young people understand their rights in stop and search.
As part of that work CPT have created a short film called Unjust Stop, to teach young people their rights.
Meanwhile, Chance to Change offers young people arrested on suspicion of certain offences a "tailored programme that addresses their needs" rather than entering them into the criminal justice system.
Critically, the scheme doesn’t require an admission of guilt to be eligible. Evidence shows people with lower levels of trust and confidence in the police, in particular people aged 18 – 24 from racially / ethnically minoritised backgrounds, are less likely to admit guilt, which has led to disproportionate numbers of people from such backgrounds entering the criminal justice system.