More than 100 police officers, staff and members of the public attend race action plan events

More than 100 police officers, staff and members of the public have attended briefing sessions with Bedfordshire Police’s Chief Constable on the landmark police race action plan.

Garry Forsyth was on hand for over an hour for both sessions earlier this month to answer questions about the landmark plan to build trust and confidence with Black communities.

The national plan devised by the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs Council outlines a series of commitments forces across the country will make. 

They are:

• Taking a zero tolerance approach to any racism in policing
• Adopting an ‘explain or reform’ approach to address the negative impact and outcomes experienced by Black communities
• Ensuring all officers and staff understand the history of policing Black communities and the ongoing impact and trauma of disproportionality
• Recruiting and developing a more representative workforce
• Increasing the involvement of Black communities in its work and improving support to Black victims of crime

Mr Forsyth, the national policing lead for race, religion and belief, said: “I want to thank everyone who took the time to attend these briefing sessions and hear more about this incredibly important piece of work.

“Policing can and must do more to ensure it commands the trust and confidence of all our communities. We know that it is with Black communities in particular where policing is least well trusted.

“This plan is the most significant piece of work ever done by policing to try and address that. Every chief constable has signed up to this plan and it is vitally important that we get this project right.

“Getting feedback from our officers, staff and the public here in Bedfordshire is a hugely important part of that process. All the feedback from these sessions will be fed back to the national plan and will go some way to helping shape this watershed moment for British policing.”

People are encouraged to fill out a survey on the plan to give their feedback - complete the survey. 

View the plan in full and the approach by us here in Bedfordshire.