Official data from the Home Office reveals the use of forceful tactics by Thames Valley Police against black and white individuals between 2021 and 2022. These tactics included the deployment of restraints, conducted energy devices like tasers, and other law enforcement tools. The report states that forceful methods were used 3,615 times against black people, compared to 20,245 instances involving white individuals.
It’s important to note that a single event might involve multiple types of forceful tactics, and a person may be involved in multiple incidents during the year. To put these figures into context, they were analyzed alongside population estimates within the Thames Valley area.
According to the 2021 census data, the local black population is approximately 93,215, while the white population is recorded at 1,972,407. When examined on a per-population basis, about 39 out of every 1,000 black individuals experienced forceful police actions, compared to 10 out of every 1,000 white individuals. This effectively means that black people were 3.8 times more likely to face forceful police measures in the Thames Valley region during this period.
This trend mirrors data at a national level. Across England and Wales, black individuals were found to be 3.4 times more likely to encounter forceful policing tactics compared to white individuals. In light of these findings, the Race Equality Foundation, a national charity focused on reducing racial inequality in public services, has expressed serious concerns, calling this an indicator of systemic racial disparity in policing practices both regionally and nationally. The foundation has urged for an urgent review and reform of racial profiling and unfair police practices.
The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), which coordinates UK policing, has reiterated its commitment to its Police Race Action Plan. This strategy aims to create a more inclusive and anti-racist culture within law enforcement agencies while addressing the negative experiences of black individuals with policing systems.
Jabeer Butt, Chief Executive of the Race Equality Foundation, described the increased rates of forceful policing against black people as “incredibly troubling” and emphasized the need for immediate action to address racial inequities in police encounters. He warned that failing to address such disparities could erode public trust in law enforcement, resulting in moral and systemic failures.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist of the NPCC, who leads on self-defense and restraint policies, acknowledged the racial disparities evident in such figures. He assured that the NPCC and the College of Policing are working to better understand and resolve these issues.
On a broader scale, the use of force by police across the UK has been increasing. In 2022-2023, a total of 960,000 forceful tactics were recorded, up 7% from 890,000 incidents the previous year. Thames Valley Police accounted for 28,332 of these instances.
Local community members and organizations are encouraged to engage in discussions around these important topics. If you are part of or know of any local groups or initiatives aimed at addressing racial equality or improving relations with law enforcement, consider submitting an event or listing your organization in the Wantage directory. This platform is an excellent way to reach more people and encourage community support.
