A CAMPAIGN group have called on police and equality watchdogs to have Greater Manchester Police abandon their “racist and discriminatory policy” of banning black youth from carnival after being smeared as gang members. 

In a letter led by JUSTICE, a human rights charity, along with eleven other organisations including the Alliance for Youth Justice and EQUAL, they slammed the “deeply racist” move that will bar people identified as “either a member of a street gang, affiliated to a street gang” or “perceived by others to be associated to a street gang.”

The group said the decision will have a “profoundly discriminatory impact on black, brown and minoritised communities,” leaving organisers to refuse entry to carnival on “vague and undefined standards” based on perception. 

Up to fifty young black men were reported to have been barred the annual festivies.

The Independent Advisory Group, Manchester City Council and GMP have all been called on to double-down on the “open-door racist” policing, but only the latter two repsonded hitting back at efforts to stamp out the policy.

The case has since been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHCR) and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) while the GMP police already remains under special measures. 

Tyrone Steele, a Criminal Justice Lawyer at JUSTICE, said: “This policy demonstrates that black, brown and racialised children and young adults continue to suffer from criminalisation at the hands of the police. 

“As well as being racist and discriminatory, the policy is plainly unlawful. The response from Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council demonstrates that the force is not committed to earning the trust of marginalised communities. Everybody deserves to attend the Carnival this weekend free from discrimination.”

Caribbean Carnival of Manchester, which is expected to launch today till 14th in Alexandra Park, is understood to be in agreement with the decision after an anonymous chief superintendent said refusing entry to the carnival was “as per the wishes of the organisers and the community.”

In a police letter, the top cop said: “This letter has been issued to YOU, based on an individual basis, as it is believed that YOU are either: a member of a street gang; affiliated to a street gang; perceived by others to be associated to a street gang; involved in criminal activity; arrested at [Caribbean Carnival of Manchester in] 2019/2020/2021; involved or linked to serious youth violence.”

The new policy comes as the force has been plunged in to special measures and after the Chief Constable of GMP, Stephen Watson, denied his force was institutionally racist.

Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, who led a report into racist policing in the city, has been called on by the campaign groups to intervene. 

Dr Remi Joseph-Salisbury, a member of the Northern Police Monitoring Project who have opposed the ban, previously told the Guardian that the letter were “really troubling,” adding that young people were being left out of a cultural celebration “based on the racist construct of the gang.”

“That construct is already highly questionable, to say the least, but is used in particularly broad and intangible ways in this letter,” he said. 

“In a context where young black men are often stereotyped as gang members and drug dealers, to deny entry because someone may, for example, be ‘perceived by others to be associated to a street gang’, is despicable and deeply harmful.”

Chief Supt Rob Cousen, commander of GMP’s City of Manchester district, said: “Caribbean Carnival is a long-established and well-attended celebration. Every year, Greater Manchester police works with partner agencies, including organisers, and members of the public to keep people as safe as possible. Sadly, in years gone by, there have been a number of incidents of serious violence which have posed a high risk of harm to those in attendance.

“Caribbean Carnival is a licensed event and is therefore subject to conditions of entry, agreed by all relevant parties, to prevent and reduce crime; harm; and anti-social behaviour. Since 2006, letters which outline these conditions have been sent to individuals about whom we have intelligence to suggest they may threaten the safety of the event. The recipients are wide ranging in terms of age, gender and ethnic background and are considered on a case-by-case basis.

“It is worth noting that this strategy is supported by both Manchester city council, as the licensing authority, and the locality’s independent advisory group. The group is made up of members of the public representing our diverse communities, who regularly feedback to GMP to ensure the force provides an outstanding service whilst serving its fundamental purposes.”

The Voice has approached Greater Manchester Police and Andy Burnham for comment over the recent legal action.