Police to appear before Torbay's first inquiry asking 'how to improve the lives of BAME communities?'
Police in Torbay will be answering questions as part of an ongoing Black Lives Matter inspired inquiry looking at how best to support BAME communities - which residents can follow online from 6pm on Wednesday.
Last updated 24th Nov 2020
Earlier this year the Devon & Cornwall force revealed black people are more likely to be the victim of crime and 12 times more likely to be stopped and searched in the force area.
The latest police figures, for the year to March 2020, show black people are six times more likely to be designated a 'suspect' and half as likely to receive a community resolution.
Of the 900 Covid enforcement fines handed out, black people were 2.8 times more likely to get one.
In September Devon & Cornwall Police launched what it calld 'a wide-ranging audit of its working culture, systems and practices'.
Tonight, at 6pm, Torbay Council’s Review Panel into 'How do we make Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Lives Matter in Torbay' will be meeting with senior policing representatives.
It’s part of the council's 'comprehensive review' launched in September in response to the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement - which is seeing a series of panels looking at areas including education, culture, NHS and local business sectors.
A final report and recommendations are due to be presented in 2021.
Councillor Jermaine Atiya-Alla, Torbay’s first elected black councillor who is leading the local review, said: “We are looking forward to discussing with local police representatives the issues affecting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people in Torbay and what we can do together to improve things.
“We would like to invite members of the public to watch the meeting and also submit questions in advance, plus of course we are still keen for people to get in touch and share their experiences and ideas with us.”
Steve Darling, Leader of Torbay Council, said: “As a council we are absolutely committed to respecting equality and diversity and we want to understand more about how some of our communities here are disadvantaged, and what we can do to improve things here in the bay.
"It’s a global issue but we can all play our own part, however small, to make the world a better and more equitable place.”
Chief Superintendent Nikki Leaper added: “The public interest in the Black Lives Matter movement this year has put the issues of equality, diversity, inclusion and fairness under greater scrutiny, including in relation to policing.
“This is a much wider problem which affects society as a whole and not one that we can solve alone.
“Devon and Cornwall Police welcomes this opportunity for a discussion with Torbay Council, partners and the public.
“The force has engaged with Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups this year in order to better understand their perceptions of policing.
“We have also committed to publishing our data on disproportionality in areas such as stop and search and we are determined to work with our communities and other agencies to address the underlying causes of any disparity.
“This event provides another chance for us to share our work and also to listen to the lived experiences of our community so we can all work together.”
To watch the meeting click here
To read minutes and watch the video from previous meetings click here