Gloucestershire Police chief pledges to tackle racism in force – BBC

Report on Gloucestershire Police Community Engagement and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction and Forum Overview

A community engagement forum was held in Gloucester, jointly hosted by the Gloucestershire Constabulary and the independent Community Legitimacy Panel (CLP). The event provided a platform for public discourse with the force’s Temporary Chief Constable (T/CC), Maggie Blyth, regarding police performance, public trust, and institutional accountability. The discussions highlighted critical issues that directly correlate with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Analysis of Public Concerns in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Concerns raised by the public directly addressed the core principles of SDG 10, which aims to reduce inequality within and among countries by promoting the inclusion of all, irrespective of race or other status, and ensuring equal opportunity. T/CC Blyth’s responses indicated a strategic focus on these areas.

• Existence of Racism: T/CC Blyth formally acknowledged that racism exists within the Gloucestershire Police force, a conclusion based on internal discussions, feedback from the National Black Police Association, and public testimony.
• Hate Crime Reporting: Community members expressed a lack of confidence in the process for reporting hate crimes, indicating a belief that such reports would not be investigated seriously. This points to a perceived inequality in access to justice for victims.
• Commitment to Action: The Temporary Chief Constable affirmed that tackling racism is an “absolute priority” for the force and reassured the public that all victims of hate crime would be taken seriously, aligning with SDG Target 10.3 to ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The forum served as a mechanism for developing effective, accountable, and transparent institutions, a key objective of SDG 16. Public feedback centered on the force’s professionalism, integrity, and ability to maintain public trust, while leadership responses focused on strengthening institutional performance.

Key Issues and Institutional Responses

1. Institutional Accountability and Professionalism:
   • Members of the public cited a “lack of respect” and professionalism from some officers, particularly armed units, during incident responses.
   • In response, T/CC Blyth committed to ensuring all force employees conduct their duties with respect, empathy, and professionalism, directly supporting SDG Target 16.6 to develop effective and accountable institutions.
2. Community Trust and Responsive Institutions:
   • Positive feedback was received for the Neighbourhood Policing Team, which was praised for building and maintaining “strong relationships with all communities.”
   • T/CC Blyth emphasized the critical importance of listening to community concerns, stating that failure to do so negatively impacts public trust and confidence in the police’s ability to protect citizens and investigate crime. This reflects SDG Target 16.7, which calls for responsive, inclusive, and participatory decision-making.
3. Commitment to Justice and Integrity:
   • The Temporary Chief Constable concluded that the force must respond to public feedback with “both words and actions” to uphold its mandate to keep people safe and act with the highest standards of integrity. This commitment underpins the broader goal of SDG 16 to promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice for all.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• The article directly addresses inequality through the acknowledgment of racism within the Gloucestershire Police force. The temporary Chief Constable, Maggie Blyth, “acknowledged that racism still exists within the force” and stated that tackling it is an “absolute priority.” This connects to SDG 10’s aim to reduce inequality and eliminate discriminatory practices.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• This goal is central to the article’s themes. The discussion revolves around the effectiveness, accountability, and inclusivity of a key public institution—the police. Issues such as “a lack of professionalism,” “worries over hate crimes,” and the need to “maintain public trust and confidence” in the police’s ability to “protect and keep people safe” are all core components of building strong and just institutions as promoted by SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

1. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices.
   • This target is relevant because the article highlights the existence of racism within the police force. The Chief Constable’s admission that “racism still exists” and her commitment to making tackling it an “absolute priority” are direct actions aimed at eliminating discriminatory practices within the institution to ensure equal treatment and outcomes for all communities.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

1. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
   • The article points to a breakdown in equal access to justice when it states that “victims of hate crime often lack the confidence their report would be investigated.” The Chief Constable’s reassurance that any victim “would be taken seriously” is an attempt to address this gap and promote the rule of law for all.
2. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
   • The entire community engagement forum described in the article is an exercise in accountability and transparency. The Chief Constable’s statement that the police must “positively respond with both words and actions” to community concerns to avoid a “negative impact on levels of public trust and confidence” directly speaks to the need for an effective and accountable police service.
3. Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.
   • The forum itself, “jointly hosted by the independent Community Legitimacy Panel (CLP) and Gloucestershire Police,” is a mechanism for responsive and participatory engagement. The police are actively listening to community concerns, including praise for “building and maintaining strong relationships with all communities,” which exemplifies this target.
4. Target 16.b: Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development.
   • This target is addressed by the force’s stated commitment to tackling racism. By making this an “absolute priority,” the police leadership is signaling an intent to enforce non-discriminatory policies within its own ranks, which is essential for a just and sustainable society.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 10 Targets

• Prevalence of discrimination: The Chief Constable’s acknowledgment of racism is based on “conversations with colleagues, the National Black Police Association and members of the public.” The frequency and nature of these reports can serve as an indicator of the level of discrimination within the force. A reduction in such reports would indicate progress.

Indicators for SDG 16 Targets

• Public trust and confidence levels: The Chief Constable explicitly mentions the importance of “levels of public trust and confidence in our service.” This is a direct, measurable indicator of the institution’s perceived effectiveness and accountability.
• Victim reporting rates and confidence: The article highlights that victims of hate crime “lack the confidence their report would be investigated.” An increase in the rate of reporting hate crimes, coupled with survey data on victim confidence, would be a key indicator of progress in ensuring access to justice.
• Public perception of police professionalism: Concerns were raised about a “lack of professionalism” and “lack of respect.” Measuring public perception of police conduct, respect, and empathy through surveys or feedback from community forums would serve as an indicator of institutional performance.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bbc.com