News / Bristol Green Party
Green PCC candidate vows to end ‘overuse’ of stop and search
The Green Party co-leader hit the campaign trail with Cleo Lake as she visited Lawrence Hill on Monday.
Jonathan Bartley joined the police and crime commissioner candidate, as well as meeting with Bristol mayoral candidate Sandy Hore-Ruthven.
During the visit, Lake unveiled her election pledge to end the overuse of police stop and search if elected.
is needed now More than ever
She says that young Black men being six and half times more likely to be stopped and searched than their white counterparts in areas served by Avon and Somerset police.
“A major part of my campaign manifesto is institutional reform,” says Lake, who has previously held the position of lord mayor and chairs the Avon Fire Authority inclusion board.
“The disproportionate use of stop and search against members of our Afrikan and Asian communities and particularly amongst a young demographic must be reduced.
“We need to empower communities, hear them and build trust. I believe in active democracy so part of my plans are to also launch an area-wide youth panel and ensure regular community meetings are held to monitor progress.”
Cleo Lake and Jonathan Bartley meet with Somali women. Photo: Jon Craig
Bartley and Lake met with local residents from the Somali community, who said their concerns were not being addressed by the current mayor or police and crime commissioner.
“The evidence is very clear that excessive and disproportionate stop and search does more harm than good,” says Bartley. “It breeds mistrust among communities, and it racially profiles people – something we must not accept.
“For justice to truly be served, we’ve got to dismantle systemic racism everywhere.”
Bristol will vote for a new police and crime commissioner following the stepping down of Sue Mountstevens.
Held on May 6, the public will also vote for their local councillor, Bristol mayor and West of England mayor.
Main photo: Jon Craig
Read more: Green PCC candidate calls for independent inquiry into policing of Bristol protests
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