Thanks for posting the video. Sadly I couldn't attend, but I see there was a large panel of speakers, so apologies to Jasper for speculating that the event might be a sham. Sometimes I am too cynical. Could anyone summarise the key points, so I don't have to watch all two and a half hours?
Watched the first hour so far. Well chaired meeting by
Lee Japser
Speakers from American police, Black police in UK , lawyer and local Cllr Jacqui Dyer. They spoke then questions.
First round of questions from audience put issues of policing of people with disability ( whether mental or physical) This led to good answer from the lawyer. Who pointed out that Black community ( or to add any community) aren't all the same. ie issues around disabilities.
On policing. I noticed one lady from audience put really interesting viewpoint that appeared so far to be ignored. That policing history was about policing slaves and the Peelers. That the history of origins of policing shows its oppressive institution.
This was not taken up by any of the panel.
As an aside the BLM from US did put forward defunding the police. Based on idea it was not capable of reform in any meaningful sense.
Given their were two police on the panel disappointed that this was view got no reply.
The policeman from US in his introductory talk put forward two arguments for reforming policing. Using the legal system to force police to change. (Which might be possible under US legal system. Be interested to know more about this. As I don't think it would apply here at this time}
Secondly Appointing police using "character" rather than putting them through training programmes. As lot of police forces have all the right policies etc but this doesn't change the culture. So culture will improve if people of the right character are employed.
TBF this kind of view reduces change to policing down to individuals. Rather than the structure. Which the lady in the audience was raising as an issue. That the historical origins of the police were to keep working class and black people in their place.
So getting people of right "character" isn't going to change much.
There was a lot of criticism of the Police Federation. Who represent the "ordinary" copper on the street. Well hardly surprising that the rank and file representation doesn't take any criticism on board.
The lawyer- who I thought was the best speaker- pointed out the new head of Met was making all the right noises. But he would now. Whether this would come to anything long term is another matter. She did say that the new head of Met was listening and drew distinction between him and the way Cressida Dick went on.
