Perpetuating deficient and structural inequalities – Letter to Gloucestershire PCC
Chris Nelson Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner No.1 Waterwells Waterwells Drive Quedgeley, Gloucester GL2 2AN
Following the consensus reached at our positive and business-like meeting of nearly a year ago, it is with considerable frustration that I have to write, on behalf of Stroud Against Racism (SAR).
The group’s representatives are still excluded from the Stop Search panel after the imposition of those confidentiality agreements. Promises made at that meeting, last August, have not been delivered upon. There has been no consultation and the less than frequent updates seem to have ceased altogether since the beginning of the year. This remains a considerable barrier to community engagement.
Further, last January, SAR became aware of what appeared to be ‘racial profiling’ of students at one of the county’s grammar schools. We asked for more information, yet that enquiry was turned into a complaint. We have received no further update. From our perspective the issue has been kicked into the long grass. Yet another chance for proper engagement lost. We wonder if a media reporter/journalist would have been treated in a similar manner if they asked your office for more information?
SAR members, at a recent meeting, asked if the group was running into procedures, policies and structures that are designed to prevent sections of the community from properly engaging with the Police? I found myself having to say that this was not my belief. But my confidence has been shaken to the core and I’m left wondering if what we are encountering is evidence of structural racism.
I believe that SAR has always behaved properly, constructively and in good faith. Other less persistent community groups, I am certain, would have given up after such treatment.
Gloucestershire Constabulary is here to serve the community and be accountable to it. The upcoming National Race Action Plan aims to gain community trust, improve community engagement and permit community input into police governance.
Given the evidence we can reasonably conclude that the Constabulary and OPCC are failing to demonstrate commitment and leadership. We are not seeing meaningful engagement and it appears that the Constabulary is content to allow deficient and structural inequalities to perpetuate.
The Senior Democratic Services Adviser at Gloucestershire County Council feels that these are operational police matters. So, SAR is asking how you can assist us in seeking resolution of these grievances?
Sincerely,
(sent electronically, so unsigned)
Gareth Kitchen on behalf of Stroud Against Racism
Copy: Siobhan Baillie MP, Cllr Linda Cohen (GCC), SDC Leader, STC Mayor, SDC Representative at GCC Police & Scrutiny Panel.
[UPDATE]
