Race and diversity advisers resign in frustration at lack of ‘change’ from Cornwall and Devon police

Former member David Feinduono said there had been “issues for a long time.”

Police officers from behind
Action plan on race will be scrutinised by new board and black communities (Getty)

FOUR MEMBERS of a Plymouth local reference group have quit a race and diversity programme with local police, after they were frustrated by the lack of real change. 

Their departure comes just weeks after a shocking set of statistics were released by Devon and Cornwall police.

The internal performance figures revealed that black people were 12 times more likely to be stopped and searched in the counties, and three times more likely to be a victim of crime than a white person. 

Additionally, the findings stated that “if you are Black, you are six times more likely to be designated as a suspect.” 

The findings were collected between April 2019 and March 2019, and revealed how BAME communities were disproportionately mistreated.

The force has since committed to a wide-ranging audit of its working culture, systems and practices.

Real change?

Speaking to PlymouthLive, David Feinduono said that he and others representing local BAME and LGBTQ communities, had advised the police for a few years and there was a history of issues.

He said: “We were not happy… From our point of view we were doing it to try and achieve real change and improvement on behalf of the communities we represented – we were not there just to be a ticked box.

“If something we highlight as a problem is not going to be mended, year after year, then there’s no point in being around the table.”

Speaking to PlymouthLive, he said: “The police have an unconscious bias in these matters. If you are a victim of racial abuse, you get questioned ‘well, you were swearing as well – you’re not in the right’. They try to find a way to minimise your complaint.”

In response to the loss of the four members, Assistant Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police Jim Colwell told Plymouth Live that “all the individuals concerned have played a vital role in helping us understand the views of our diverse communities and it is vital that we listen to their experiences.”

According to Devon and Cornwall Police’s website, there are three Local Reference Groups across the region, examining how “all aspects of policing; neighbourhood, response and crime operate within the specific geographical area impact on the community.” 

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