A CAMPAIGN group has called on police and equality watchdogs for Manchester Police to abandon their “racist and discriminatory policy” of banning young black people from carnivals after being branded as gang members.
In a letter led by JUSTICE, a human rights charity, along with eleven other organizations including the Alliance for Youth Justice and EQUAL, they criticized the “deeply racist” measure which will ban people identified as “or members of a street gang, affiliated with a street gang” or “perceived by others as affiliated with a street gang”.
The group said the decision will have a “deeply discriminatory impact on black, brown and minority communities”, leaving organizers to refuse entry to the carnival with “vague and undefined standards” based on perception.
The Independent Advisory Group, Manchester City Council and GMP have been called on to double down on “racist open-door” policing, but only the latter two responded by hitting back at attempts to drop the policy.
The matter has since been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHCR) and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Safety and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) while GMP police are now under special measures.
Tyrone Steele, a criminal justice advocate at JUSTICE, said: “This policy shows that black, brown and racialized children and youth continue to suffer from criminalization at the hands of the police.
“In addition to being racist and discriminatory, the policy is clearly illegal. The response from Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council shows that the force is not committed to winning the trust of marginalized communities. Everyone deserves to participate in Carnival this weekend without discrimination.”
Manchester’s Caribbean Carnival, which is expected to run from today until the 14th in Alexandra Park, is understood to be in compliance with the decision after an anonymous chief inspector said the refusal of entry to the carnival was “at the wishes of the organizers and the community. “
In a police letter, the chief constable said: “This letter has been issued to you, on an individual basis, as you are believed to be either: a member of a street gang; associated with a street gang; perceived by others as affiliated with a street gang; involved in criminal activity; arrested in [Caribbean Carnival of Manchester in] 2019/2020/2021; involved in or related to serious youth violence.”
The new policy comes as the force has been plunged into special measures and after GMP chief constable Stephen Watson denied his force was institutionally racist.
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, who led a report into racist policing in the city, has been called on by campaign groups to intervene.
Dr Remi Joseph-Salisbury, a member of the Northern Police Monitoring Project, said earlier Guardn that the letter was “really disturbing”, adding that young people were being left out of a cultural celebration “based on the racist construct of the gang”.
“That construct is already very controversial, to say the least, but it is used in particularly broad and intangible ways in this paper,” he said.
“In a context where young people of color are often stereotyped as gang members and drug dealers, to deny entry because someone may, for example, be ‘perceived by others to be associated with a street gang’ is repugnant and deeply harmful .
Chief Supt Rob Cousen, GMP’s Manchester City District Commander, said: “Caribbean Carnivals are a popular and well-attended holiday. Each year, Greater Manchester Police work with partner agencies, including organizers and members of the public to keep people as safe as possible. Sadly, in the past years, there have been a number of incidents of serious violence which have posed a high risk of harm to those present.
“Caribbean Carnival is a licensed event and is therefore subject to conditions of entry, agreed by all relevant parties, to prevent and reduce crime; harm; and antisocial behavior. Since 2006, letters outlining these conditions have been sent to individuals whom we have information to suggest may threaten event security. Recipients range in age, gender and ethnicity and are considered on a case-by-case basis.
“It is worth noting that this strategy is supported by both Manchester City Council, the licensing authority and the locality’s independent advisory group. The group is made up of members of the public representing our diverse communities who regularly provide feedback to the GMP to ensure the force provides an outstanding service while serving its core purposes.”
voice has approached Greater Manchester Police and Andy Burnham for comment on the latest legal action.
