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(Thread) Whatever side of the argument you stand on when it comes to policing and stop and search, sure we can all agree on the following that can help us have constructive dialogue about the challenges we face and how we can address them:
1. There is a policing crisis in the UK - @Conservatives have cut 21,000 police officers and closed down more than 600 police stations since 2010.
We've had 10 years of systematic #DefundThePolice from the Tories under the guise of austerity. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/half-of-london-police-stations-to-shut-8427208.html
We've had 10 years of systematic #DefundThePolice from the Tories under the guise of austerity. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/half-of-london-police-stations-to-shut-8427208.html
Across England and Wales, violent crime has increased significantly since 2010. Murder, manslaughter, robbery, sex offences, knife crime, county lines, have all increased.
The police have been swimming against the tide with reduced numbers and funding. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46984559
The police have been swimming against the tide with reduced numbers and funding. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46984559
The communities most impacted by these crimes are often working class and poor areas - in cities they are often BAME communities.
These communities and the police have one thing in common as a starting point: safer streets.
The police and communities want bad guys locked up.
These communities and the police have one thing in common as a starting point: safer streets.
The police and communities want bad guys locked up.
Stop and search was "reformed" by @theresa_may.
It was a reform that failed because communities still feel over-policed, police officers hate it, and crime is still shooting up. https://www.theguardian.com/law/2014/apr/30/theresa-may-reform-police-stop-and-search-powers?CMP=share_btn_tw
It was a reform that failed because communities still feel over-policed, police officers hate it, and crime is still shooting up. https://www.theguardian.com/law/2014/apr/30/theresa-may-reform-police-stop-and-search-powers?CMP=share_btn_tw
In many cases, communities feel over-policed - especially when it comes to stop and search. E.g. recent figures show Met carried out 22k stop and searches on Black men in London during lockdown: more than 80% resulted in no further action. https://www.theguardian.com/law/2020/jul/08/one-in-10-of-londons-young-black-males-stopped-by-police-in-may?CMP=share_btn_tw
So how do we build a productive, constructive, fruitful, and communitarian relationship between police officers and the communities blighted by crime?
I want genuine contributions - not slogans and ignorance.
I want genuine contributions - not slogans and ignorance.
I should state at the outset that I do not support #DefundThePolice.
I didn't support the @Conservatives who did it for 10 years and will not support it.
I support in investing in the police, social exclusion, education, mental health, youth services, etc, all together.
I didn't support the @Conservatives who did it for 10 years and will not support it.
I support in investing in the police, social exclusion, education, mental health, youth services, etc, all together.
