Bristol ‘city leaders group’ have ‘complete confidence’ in police

A group of business people, academics and public servants who call themselves the Bristol City Leaders group have said that those involved in the violent events in the city over the last week “do not speak for Bristol”.

In an open letter, the group say that the images beamed around the world from Bristol “demean us all”.

Signatories including the bishop of Bristol, the chief executive of Bristol Airport and the executive director of Wessex Water, say in the letter that they have “complete confidence in the approach taken by Avon & Somerset Police”.

Here is the letter in full:

As individuals who live and work in Bristol and represent organisations that support many thousands of people across the city, we stand together in condemning Sunday’s violent disorder.

Those who vandalised parts of our city and injured and threatened police officers and public servants do not speak for Bristol. They do not speak for the vast majority of those who are concerned about proposed legislation changes. Their actions demean us all.

We share Bristolians’ horror and disappointment at what they saw. We have complete confidence in the approach taken by Avon & Somerset Police, who have worked so closely with Bristol’s communities across our city during the last year.

Whilst we are not blind to the challenges Bristol faces, we also see every day how people, public bodies, businesses, community groups and faith communities have come together to support each other through this incredibly testing time.

We saw it last week during the Bristol Remembers gathering, where people from across the city came together to reflect on the impact of the last year on their lives and communities.

We see it in how public, private and civic organisations have shared experiences of life during lockdown and worked together to overcome enormous challenges and adapt to the impact of Covid-19.

We see it in how people of all ages and backgrounds have volunteered to support the city’s response to Covid-19 and its recovery from it.

Police and protesters come face-to-face outside Bridewell Police Station. Photo: Martin Booth

Those positive actions, which happen every day, truly represent the best of our city. They inspire us and help us to focus on working together to help Bristol be the very best it can be.

At a time when we need to support each other to rebuild our lives and economy, we won’t be defined by the acts of a minority. Our focus remains, as it has been through this year, on positive action and hope.

In that spirit, we hope people can join us in sharing their pride in the city and demonstrate all that is great about Bristol. Collaborative, creative, courageous, open, inclusive and caring – Bristol is all these things and more. These qualities will not be dimmed by violence and criminality: they will be our shining light.

As a city of hope, we continue to move forward as a city together, because #WeAreBristol.

From members of Bristol City Leaders group:

• Fuad Mahamed, chief executive of Ashley Housing Association
• Mick Crennell, chief fire officer of Avon Fire and Rescue
• Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol
• David Lees, chief executive of Bristol Airport
• John Hirst, chief executive of Destination Bristol
• Andrew Kelly, director of Bristol Festival of Ideas & Bristol Cultural Development Partnership
• David Brown, chief executive of The Bristol Port Company
• Oona Goldsworthy, chief executive of Brunel Care
• James Durie, chief executive of Business West Chambers of Commerce & Initiative
• Richard Bonner, director of Business West Board
• Edward Rowberry, chief executive of Bristol & Bath Regional Capital
• Andy Forbes, principal of City of Bristol College
• Andy Street, chair of City Funds and chair of Feeding Bristol
• James Freeman, managing director and Doug Claringbold (incoming managing director) of First West of England
• Steve Chalke, founder of Oasis Academies
• Sue Mountstevens, Police and Crime Commissioner
• Nigel Costley, South West regional secretary of TUC
• Lucinda Parr, registrar and secretary at the University of Bristol
• Professor Steve West, vice chancellor of UWE Bristol
• Jeff Farrar, chair of University Hospitals Bristol and Weston (UHBW) NHS Foundation Trust
• Sandra Meadows, chief executive of VOSCUR
• Mohammed Saddiq, executive director of Wessex Water

Main photo: Phil Riley

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