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To establish a national campaign specifically focused on the issue of stop and search and the impact that it has on specific communities.
It is widely known that Black males are more likely to be stopped and searched by police, than their white counterparts. We feel that this is something that must change to promote the best outcomes for all.
We have become aware of situations in which police officers have not been clear about what they can and cannot do lawfully and as a result, we are concerned that negative encounters with the police can lead to entrenched thinking from a group that appears to be disproportionately targeted.
We also believe that there is a link between the way that people feel after a negative encounter with police, which leads to them being less likely to vote and participate in local democratic processes attributable to a feeling of disenfranchisement and at best, perceived oppression, or at worst, actual oppressive processes, which are not being challenged.
Outcomes sought from our campaign
The campaign will primarily be driven towards achieving: -
- a change in Government policy about the way that police officers interact with people generally, and BAME communities specifically.
- a change in the law in relation to police officers being held to account for wrongdoing and not being able to retire or resign simply to avoid action being taken against an individual or collective wrongdoers.
- to bring into law, a rule about a mandatory level of compensation to be paid to anyone who is wrongfully detained or in cases where stop and search powers are abused. The campaign will lobby for a payment of at least £100 to be payable to anyone who is wrongly stopped and searched and a minimum payment of £5000 to anyone who is wrongly detained.
Why us?
We have a wide-ranging level of experiences in several walks of life and would like to use this to create a positive change. Among our numbers, are individuals with expert knowledge on issues such as policing, stop and search, youth and community development, prisons, and the criminal justice system.
We have campaigning experience and a track record in the voluntary sector after having developed, set up, run or been integral in charities and organisations within the grassroots of working-class communities.
How?
1. We want to put together a short documentary which will feature some of the people we have heard from about some of their experiences. We have some stories, which we have not yet done anything with, and these range from that of a Businessman who was stopped searched and threatened with violence, which was fortunately captured by independent witnesses, right the way through to a young student who was racially abused. We will feature 6 or 7 interviews including dialogue and interactions with senior officers and political figures.
2. We plan to set up a national campaign regarding stop and search.
3. Establish a dialogue with political figures and lobby for changes that do not necessarily need to go through the long-winded processes of petitions and debate in Parliament.
4. Embark upon a sustained campaign that will involve extensive training for all police officers, whether they have been in the job for multiple years or are about to be inducted as probationer constables.
5. Lobby for a mandatory minimum payment to anyone who suffers the indignity of wrongful arrest or detention, thereby disabusing officers who would seek to misuse their powers, from doing so and encouraging senior officers to take a greater interest in the way that officers behave and how budgets are spent.
Why we need your help…
It is apparent that this is an issue that most are reluctant to tackle and if we do not take action to change the narrative, the outcomes will remain the same and will continue to only affect a small number of people, disproportionately.
Without your help, this project will not be able to happen.
We need your help to make the changes that are needed to make a difference to the lives of those who are racially profiled by a small number of officers who have an axe to grind where race is concerned. This is the time to make a change and we need to get there together.
Campaign budget (Estimated)
We anticipate the need for £46k to successfully achieve the outcomes outlined above, in a campaign that will be target driven for a 12-month period.
We would seek the following:
WFH Campaign coordinator £20k
Literature £10k
Video/Documentary £10k
Travel expenses £6k
*WFH = Working from home
It is widely known that Black males are more likely to be stopped and searched by police, than their white counterparts. We feel that this is something that must change to promote the best outcomes for all.
We have become aware of situations in which police officers have not been clear about what they can and cannot do lawfully and as a result, we are concerned that negative encounters with the police can lead to entrenched thinking from a group that appears to be disproportionately targeted.
We also believe that there is a link between the way that people feel after a negative encounter with police, which leads to them being less likely to vote and participate in local democratic processes attributable to a feeling of disenfranchisement and at best, perceived oppression, or at worst, actual oppressive processes, which are not being challenged.
Outcomes sought from our campaign
The campaign will primarily be driven towards achieving: -
- a change in Government policy about the way that police officers interact with people generally, and BAME communities specifically.
- a change in the law in relation to police officers being held to account for wrongdoing and not being able to retire or resign simply to avoid action being taken against an individual or collective wrongdoers.
- to bring into law, a rule about a mandatory level of compensation to be paid to anyone who is wrongfully detained or in cases where stop and search powers are abused. The campaign will lobby for a payment of at least £100 to be payable to anyone who is wrongly stopped and searched and a minimum payment of £5000 to anyone who is wrongly detained.
Why us?
We have a wide-ranging level of experiences in several walks of life and would like to use this to create a positive change. Among our numbers, are individuals with expert knowledge on issues such as policing, stop and search, youth and community development, prisons, and the criminal justice system.
We have campaigning experience and a track record in the voluntary sector after having developed, set up, run or been integral in charities and organisations within the grassroots of working-class communities.
How?
1. We want to put together a short documentary which will feature some of the people we have heard from about some of their experiences. We have some stories, which we have not yet done anything with, and these range from that of a Businessman who was stopped searched and threatened with violence, which was fortunately captured by independent witnesses, right the way through to a young student who was racially abused. We will feature 6 or 7 interviews including dialogue and interactions with senior officers and political figures.
2. We plan to set up a national campaign regarding stop and search.
3. Establish a dialogue with political figures and lobby for changes that do not necessarily need to go through the long-winded processes of petitions and debate in Parliament.
4. Embark upon a sustained campaign that will involve extensive training for all police officers, whether they have been in the job for multiple years or are about to be inducted as probationer constables.
5. Lobby for a mandatory minimum payment to anyone who suffers the indignity of wrongful arrest or detention, thereby disabusing officers who would seek to misuse their powers, from doing so and encouraging senior officers to take a greater interest in the way that officers behave and how budgets are spent.
Why we need your help…
It is apparent that this is an issue that most are reluctant to tackle and if we do not take action to change the narrative, the outcomes will remain the same and will continue to only affect a small number of people, disproportionately.
Without your help, this project will not be able to happen.
We need your help to make the changes that are needed to make a difference to the lives of those who are racially profiled by a small number of officers who have an axe to grind where race is concerned. This is the time to make a change and we need to get there together.
Campaign budget (Estimated)
We anticipate the need for £46k to successfully achieve the outcomes outlined above, in a campaign that will be target driven for a 12-month period.
We would seek the following:
WFH Campaign coordinator £20k
Literature £10k
Video/Documentary £10k
Travel expenses £6k
*WFH = Working from home
Organizer and beneficiary
Taking The Initiative Party
Organizer
Charles Roberts
Beneficiary