engagement with Black communities

A third Community Innovation Hub event in Stretford brought together members of the African and Caribbean community to review the findings of the earlier Hubs held in Moss Side and Stockport at the end of last year, and to discuss proposals.

The events are delivered as part of GMP’s commitment to the Police Race Action Plan Icebreaker project, which is seeking to provide a national template to improve community engagement with Black communities.

They are hosted by an independent company that specialises in facilitating conversations to ensure that what organisations do aligns with community expectations.

The Hubs agreed that more needs to be done forcewide to address concerns about community policing and possible solutions regarding stop and search from an African and Caribbean perspective. A further event will be held in September to review progress and establish thoughts on further developments, and the concept will be regularly reviewed by communities in partnership with GMP and partners, with an ambition to widen the audience to develop this important work further.

Since the previous Community Innovation Hub events, some community members have joined strategic groups that contribute to the governance and approaches taken by the force.