On the 19th of June, 2023, Home Secretary Suella Braverman informed all police forces in England and Wales to “ramp up” the use of stop and search powers in efforts to stop knife crime and the “dangerous culture” of carrying weapons. This is a concerning development from the Home Secretary, when the disproportionate use of Stop and Search on minoritised communities has been well documented. Photograph: Steve Phillips/Alamy
BSWN’s response to Avon & Somerset Chief Constable Sarah Crew’s Statement on ‘Institutional Racism’
On the 16th of June, 2023, Chief Constable Sarah Crew of the Avon & Somerset Police characterised the Avon & Somerset Police as “institutionally racist.” (Avon & Somerset Police, 2023) This conclusion was reached through tests and definitions established through decades of advocacy against racial discrimination in policing. This statement, having come from such a senior position, is a welcome addition to the fight against systemic racial injustice in the United Kingdom
A Policy Brief on the Renter's Reform Bill
Submission to Just Fair
Ethnic minorities account for around 14 percent of the UK population (ONS, 2011) and while all British ethnic minority groups have made progress in employment, occupational mix, labour force participation and education relative to the white majority, ethnic minorities still do less well than most white people in most socioeconomic areas.
The We Move Summit for Racial Equality & Migrants Rights
BSWN responds to problematic government proposals to change the ethnicity facts and figures website
The website in question was created as an integrated service from which the public can access government data on racial disparities in the UK.
A charter for co-produced research
Part of our work to decolonise knowledge production includes building a charter for co-produced research. By de-centering Western perspectives and following organisations such as the Global Indigenous Data Collection, we as a coalition are breaking away from old practices and advocating for a new Charter which can offer practical guidance for other researchers wanting to do the same.
Proposed British Bill of Rights
BSWN's response to the Inclusive Britain Report
Getting ready for the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in Bristol
Race Justice Week
Racial justice goes beyond anti-racism. It is not just the absence of inequities, but also the presence of deliberate systems and supports to achieve and sustain racial equity through proactive and preventative measures. The discourses of justice provide a way in which to engage and capture the multiple identities and experiences of oppression.
You can’t change what you can’t name, and it is therefore important to ensure we rally around the same language. The events of 2020, including the Black Lives Matter movement and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on ethnic minority communities, has heightened public consciousness of race inequality. Now there is a need to galvanise and maximise impact through a nationwide collaboration for real change.
Nelson Mandela Day
Read our Special blog by Angelique Retief on the annual International Nelson Mandela Day. In November 2009, in recognition of the former South African President's contribution to the culture of peace and freedom, the UN General Assembly declared 18 July Nelson Mandela International Day. It was created to inspire people to embrace the values of democracy and contribute towards the ideals of ensuring a just and fair society and motivate a campaign to get the public involved in charitable activities.
The Windrush Compensation Scheme - Adding Insult to Injustice
A Reflection on the anniversary of the toppling of the Colston Statue
On this day one year ago, we watched as the Colston Statue was pulled down during the Black Lives Matter protests in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder by a police officer. Amid the Black Lives Matter protests, the far-right backlash, the coronavirus pandemic and severe economic downturn, the UK has faced a year of discontent.
