'We found Greater Manchester Police to be institutionally racist two years ago - we stand by that today'
The assertion from GMP’s Chief Constable, Stephen Watson, that his force is not institutionally racist, has caused turmoil among those who’ve fought for equality in the criminal justice system.
Findings from GMP's Achieving Race Equality report in 2021 led the chair of Greater Manchester's Race Equality Panel to conclude the force was institutionally racist. Two years on, she and other insiders claim little progress has been made.
"I think it's universally recognised – we have people in our ranks who ought not to be there who conduct themselves in a racist, homophobic - on and on goes the list. I just think we draw the distinction between those who let the side down and the mass." PC Jones was said to have dismissed troubl emakers at Eid celebrations in Manchester's Curry Mile, in August 2018, as 'smelly P*** c***s' in a separate chat with his girlfriend, PC Rebekah Kelly.
She made the same conclusion in 2021, when GMP's Achieving Race Equality Report revealed that Black people were 5.7 times more likely to have a taser used against them than white people, 5.3 times more likely to be stopped and searched, and four times more likely to have force used against them. “I’ve seen so many videos of people being treated like animals by police and Mr Watson is quite aware that I have that footage,” she said. "He will take the view that there is the individual bad apple and he will say we will root them out and boot them out and I say good luck to you, because it’s your systems that allow this to happen.
He added that they were grateful for the help and advice from the panel, and other community groups, outlining the aim to 'become an organisation that everyone can have trust and confidence in - irrespective of background, race or belief'. Approached by the M.E.N for a response, the Chief Constable said the force 'do not deny people’s experiences and recognise that change is needed.'
This will involve a dedicated policing team per ward, with 35 neighbourhoods being serviced 24/7 by 89 teams, made up of 1,148 police officers and staff. He also announced an extra 264 more warranted police officers. In 2020, police forces in England and Wales received a cash injection from the Home Office of £6.7 million to purchase 8,155 tasers - meaning around 8,000 more officers would be able to carry the device.
Those from Black, African, Caribbean and Black British communities in Greater Manchester were 2.1 times more likely to have forced used against them by police between April 2022 to March 2023. The national figure was the same. A watchdog made five recommendations after an investigation into the incident, but said officers ‘did not act in a way that justified disciplinary proceedings or commit a criminal offence.’
“GMP would agree the figures are disproportionate when it comes to who is likely to receive aggressive treatment,” she said. “Where it becomes systemic is where that is seen to be the case but when those individuals make complaints they are kicked into the long grass. Kate Green, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire has told the M.E.N she will be commissioning a new Achieving Race Equality Report from GMP, and plans to bring the force and the Greater Manchester Equality Panel to discuss the language used when having conversations around racism.
For comparison, between July 2021 and June 2022, Black people were 3.7 times more likely to be stopped and searched than White people, with Asian people 1.7 times more likely. Zara Manoehoetoe says her work with young people in the community now involves equipping them with their legal rights and coaching them about how to stay calm during a police search.
In a response to the decision to ban dozens of members of the community from Manchester's Caribbean Carnival last year, GMP said there had been incidents of 'serious violence' at the carnival in previous years, and the strategy of banning people from attending had been used in the past. They also argued that the “gang narrative” is racist and found that although just 6% of serious violence in the Manchester area had been committed by black young people, the people listed on GMPs gangs databases were 81% black.
The prosecution had presented to the jury that all of the men were in a gang, or loyal to a gang, and that they united to kill Hafidah because he was part of a rival gang and had infringed on their patch. Powell has raised concerns about these types of sentences with the Justice Secretary, and called for more education to be provided to police, clearer guidelines from the CPS and a board who would have the ability to review joint enterprise cases.
In an interview with The Voice, Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham promised to demand changes to tackle the disproportionality of joint enterprise, and said he will ask the chief constable to present a framework that will reform current policy and provide assessments on the risk of discrimination against black communities.
In March 2021, GMP had a workforce of 11,700 people, of whom 980 or 8.4 per cent were from Black, Asian, or other minority ethnic groups. In March 2022, that figure rose to 9.8 per cent. “I would say there are some people who want to work with the police,” she said. “But I think there is a real problem in that their own community doesn’t like the idea of them working for an organisation that has hurt people. I have lost friendships and relationships for being prepared to be in a room with people working with GMP and GMP officers.
“My officers were writing about me in their notes and saying they were worried I would be subjected to homophobic and racist abuse yet did nothing about it when it happened. “The Chief Constable says he is rooting and booting these officers out but apparently police forces have been doing this work for generations so there shouldn’t be anyone left,” said Zara.
What GMP say Chief Constable Stephen Watson said: "Policing in the UK is built on a foundation of trust and confidence allowing us to police our communities by consent. Our service provision must be, and must be seen to be, fair, free from discrimination and delivered with the highest level of professional standards.
"However, it is by addressing these three areas that we will become an organisation that everyone can have trust and confidence in - irrespective of background, race or belief." "I have no doubt that we all share the same position and ambition around equality, but language matters when discussing issues like this that are so important to people, particularly those impacted directly. So, an important next step will be for me to bring the Chief Constable and the Greater Manchester Race Equality Panel together to discuss this.
Commenting specifically on the number of Black police recruits entering the force, she added: "Having a police force that is representative of all communities is essential, not just in tackling racism or misogyny but in order for the police to build trust and confidence with everyone they serve.
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