Race Alliance Wales

WHAT'S GOING ON?

The policing of ethnic minorities has often been at the forefront of the Black Lives Matter movement. The recent murder of Chris Kaba in London raises the concern, once again, of racism in the police force and if enough is being done to rid of it. Despite the countless protests and government reforms, many are feeling that nothing has changed and much more needs to be done. Race Alliance Wales (RAW) exemplified this through their latest peer-led research report resulting in a Welsh Government inquiry into policing. RAW’s extensive report on the policing of young people in Wales explores people’s real experiences with the police through a series of testimonies. They also discuss the long and short term impacts of interactions with the police centering trust and mental health. The police image being one

lacking representation and confidence from young people is a shared feeling amongst much of the Welsh youth (particularly from non-white backgrounds).

Sharif Muhamudu, 18 year old athlete for Tiger BAY agrees that being unfairly targeted and having to ‘code switch’ are very real things;

You have to adhere to certain survival tactics to avoid coming across aggressive… because they can use that behaviour as an excuse to do what ever they want’ Sharif speaks on his personal experience with the police - at 16, he was questioned if his bike was stolen and if he had drugs on him after a day at the park with his friends; "They asked if I had anything on me which I didn't and I said no, but they still thought that was enough reason to search me, basically in public. 'It was embarrassing".

This kind of interaction seemed common with another young man from Cardiff, Stelvio Garcia, when he was stopped and asked what he was doing whilst waiting to meet his girlfriend. Stelvio explains that the police ‘insisted he’d [I’d] go home’ because he looked ‘suspicious

Stelvio Garcia

STOP AND SEARCH

The two young men, both Black African, explained that this treatment by the police has led to higher levels of anxiety when they leave their homes, and these feelings towards, and experiences with, the police are not as common amongst their white peers. Research shows this fear is not irrational; official UK Government statistics show the rates for black youth being stopped and searched is 52.6 per 1000 compared to 7.5 per 1000in white youth. Many feel certain that the police force is inherently racist, but how to go about changing that is less perspicuous. Sharif suggests that ‘better background checks are needed’ but acknowledges he senses a ‘progression’ in attitudes over recent years but still ‘weekly, monthly he is [I am] hearing stories from his [my] friends facing discrimination.’

RAW offers 15 recommendations alongside an official inquiry to deplete the racialising of ethnic minorities by Welsh police in hopes of change and a more equal future.