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How much is perception playing into the narrative around racism and policing at the moment? If I do 10 stops, none of them justified (obvs I wouldn't, I'm quality), and one of them is a black person, is THAT stop racist? Is that a poor cop or a racist cop? Thread.
When I was on a proactive team we did 30 stops a night. It was a club area in central London so the demographics we stopped were incredibly varied, but I only got accused of racism by black people. It didn't matter that my 5090 book showed that to be rubbish, it was true to them.
On another job we ended up in a punch up because the person being stopped could not accept that grounds amounting to suspicion was enough to search his car. He was convinced it was racism combined with an over reach of powers. His perception was so strong that he fought us.
In some situations we have time to explain and encourage, in others we don't. More and more we find people (of all ethnicities and backgrounds) cannot just accept what the law is, there is constant questioning and a refusal to believe facts leading to a refusal to co-operate.
Refusal to co-operate is the single biggest reason for an escalation in use of force. I wonder how much of a vicious cycle we are in where a lack of trust>
lack of co-operation>
more confrontation/force>
lack of trust.
And on and on...
lack of co-operation>
more confrontation/force>
lack of trust.
And on and on...
We know that lack of trust is higher in some communties than others, but how much is the lack of trust playing into the lack of co-operation. If your automatic setting is to view any action in a negative light, is there anyway to get anything right?
I don't know how we change this cycle. I think an increase in accurate legal education for all children is a good start. What the Police can and can't do, what your rights really are as opposed to what you have been told by your mate who swears down he is a barrister.
It would be good if some of the most vocal critics of the Police from within various communities came out with us, not just for a one off, but on a regular basis, they might learn a bit more from our side and might have some good ideas for us. Who knows?
I guess we need to decide as a society if facts are more important than feelings and then how we bridge the gap sensibly between the two. I wish I had more answers.
