New Race Forum for Young People in Hertfordshire

Young Black people from across Hertfordshire are taking part in a new initiative to help address racial disparities in policing.

More than 25 teenagers attended the first sessions of the new Young People’s Race Inclusion Forum. The project, set up by Hertfordshire Constabulary with Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) Services for Young People, aims to better understand young Black perspectives on policing in the county.

Those taking part will be scrutinising policing on the issues that matter to them. The forum offers the opportunity for those involved to share views on how the service could better address racial disparities, improve police recruitment from minority groups, and increase confidence in policing among Black people.

The first meetings took place in young people’s centres in Letchworth and Watford, with regular sessions planned to take place going forward.

Chief Inspector Matt Barton said: ‘Research shows that young Black people have some of the lowest levels of confidence in policing in the UK. Worryingly, this means they are less likely to report crime, seek help from the police when they need it or join the police service as a career. This leaves them feeling less protected by police and under-represented in the workforce, compared to other groups.

‘The forum has been set up to better understand the reasons for this and to involve young Black people in creating solutions to these often-complex issues.

‘We won’t shy away from the challenging issues, such as police use of stop and search, and the forum members will also get a choice of what themes we look at. Their feedback will help shape and inform the way we police Hertfordshire.’

He added: ‘I would also like to thank colleagues in HCC Services for Young People for collaborating on this project.’

To register an interest, parents or carers of the interested young person must complete this form https://forms.office.com/e/ancaqJn5QN

The forum is open to all Black young people in Hertfordshire aged 14 to 18. Consent from a parent or carer is required and spaces are limited. Video-links are made for those who cannot attend in person.

Pictured left to right at Watford Young Peoples Centre are: Will Lafferty, from HCC Services for Young People, PC Jasmine Harrison, Chief Superintendent Dean Patient, Chief Inspector Matt Barton, and Kips Green, from HCC Services for Young People.