I stand with you
There have been a number of high profile incidents in the United States, which have shone a light on the grave injustices experienced by people from African American communities, and black and minority ethnic people all over the world, at the hands of the police and the criminal justice system.
Most recently, the awful events in Minnesota which resulted in the death of George Floyd in appalling circumstances for which a police officer has been dismissed and charged with murder.
Understandably, people are angry and upset and that has manifested itself in protests and also some terrible outbreaks of violence and disorder in many places across America.
Here in Avon and Somerset our communities join others all over the world with expressions of solidarity in their frustration and anger at the senselessness and injustice of these travesties.
I would like to use the words of Martin Luther King who said that an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. This is not just a matter for people from BaME communities. We must all work together for human rights to effect change in society.
The global pandemic has highlighted the disparities and divides along racial and socio-economic lines and the disproportionate impact Covid19 has had on many communities. We must work to change the circumstances that create and compound those undeniable inequalities.
This is a stark reminder that we still have so much to do.
As your Police and Crime Commissioner, I am your voice in policing and I will do all I can to listen to everyone in our communities, especially the quiet voices that are not heard or represented.
I will continue to hold Chief Constable Andy Marsh, and his officers, to account to ensure that the police service is addressing disparities faced by those communities.
My team and I will continue to work with the Chief Constable and our partners in the criminal justice system to ensure we are always working towards Avon and Somerset Police becoming the most inclusive, representative and outstanding police service for everyone.
In the UK we are fortunate to have a model of policing by consent and I am proud to highlight that an important part of that is the work of the independent panels set up by my office to scrutinise police powers and review complaints against the police in Avon and Somerset.
We must stand together to fight for a stronger, fairer society built on a foundation of unity and equity.
German <> English Translator | Educator | Author
4 年Very impressed our local police is distancing its communications so decisively from those by the Home Office
Business Crime Reduction Specialist. Ethics and Community Development Champion. Memorial Device Alternative National Treasure. * Opinions expressed are my own
4 年Interesting read, Sue, and you’re right we must speak out in order to create a society that is equitable. These injustices are enabled by political leaders who marginalise the voices of minorities; prioritise their own interests (or those of their backers) over the communities they serve; and seek to hide or ignore inequalities and injustices rather than bringing them out into the light. I find that there’s a lot of hypocrisy from political leaders at moments such as these, people who say the right things publicly but then act in a manner that’s the complete opposite when it actually counts. It’s their deeds not their words that matter most and their ability to keep the promises they have made will always be their legacy. Let’s hope we see more leadership that is motivated by raising everyone up and not by self advancement; their own cliques; and the interests of their backers. We have to change because it is our responsibility to leave the world in a better place than how we found it. Let’s hope this senseless death is the catalyst for that, although I fear that after this initial focus has passed most will forget their lofty words and revert back into apathy and ignorance.