A new Independent Advisory Group has been created to advise on policing in black and black heritage communities.

The IAG, whose members come from diverse backgrounds and professions such as teachers and doctors, aims to hold South Yorkshire Police to account around the use of police powers such as Stop and Search which often disproportionately targets minority communities.

Adrian Bent, Co-Chair of the IAG explained “The Police Race Action Plan IAG is a vital platform for fostering collaboration and ensuring diverse voices are heard.”

The IAG was launched to support the implementation of South Yorkshire Police’s Police Race Action Plan (PRAP) it is hoped that the group will help the police to improve relationships and build confidence within communities who often lack confidence in their local police forces.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that confidence in the police among Black Brits nationally was at 60%, 8% below the national average, with confidence being even lower in Black Caribbean communities where confidence in the police was only 49% showing a significant lack of trust in the police forces.

However the new group has already faced some backlash. in response to South Yorkshire Police’s Facebook post announcing the IAG Bob Healey called the group “Absolutely appalling, two tier policing in action!” and Michael Davis said “Isn’t crime just crime?”

South Yorkshire Police aims to reform both internal operation within South Yorkshire Police as well as South Yorkshire Police’s relationship with diverse communities in South Yorkshire. The South Yorkshire Police PRAP was released in October last year and was built on the foundations of the national Police Race Action Plan that was released in 2022.

if you are interested in joining the IAG you can contact them at prap@southyorks.pnn.police.uk