Election of police chief 'excludes the minority', Plymouth conference hears
THIS year's election of an American-style Police Commissioner excludes people from the black and ethnic minority community, it was claimed at a city conference.
Ossie Glover, chief executive of Fata He in Plymouth, criticised November's election of a Police and Crime Commissioner for "excluding the diverse community".
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Lord Mayor Michael Wright with, from left, Astrid Nsana, Sharon Sayer, Sunder Braganza and Patriciah Petrie with Ozzie Glover at rear
The Home Office has set a £5,000 deposit for candidates in the election. It was "an issue of exclusion" because people could not afford to lose that much money, Mr Glover told an Equality conference at the Council House in Plymouth.
The conference, organised by the black and ethnic minority organisation Fata He, was attended by about 100 people. Alison Seabeck, MP for Plymouth Moor View, said Plymouth needed to pick up the baton handed down from the Olympics.
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"We have a fantastically diverse athletics team and everybody is being cheered. We are one country and these people are here and they are British.
"Groups on the far Right must be hating what they are seeing at the Olympics because it pulls the rug out from under their argument."
She said more than 300 languages were spoken in London and that attracted international companies.
"Plymouth too can do that. Business here needs to look at how it can draw on the diversity we have. It's a positive to have people from other parts of the world living in your city."
Vikki Matthews, head of human resources at Plymouth University, said the city did not celebrate diversity enough. The university was increasing the number of international students, and was keen to see that reflected among the staff. "It makes business sense to have a diverse student and staff population. Diverse teams are more creative."
Superintendent Chris Eastwood, local policing commander in Plymouth, said it was important to have equality in the workforce and in the way policing is carried out. Part of that included having officers who were dedicated to dealing with "hate crime".
"The force is all about building safe communities. Without confidence in the police we are on a losing wicket. We need the public's support."
Mr Glover said Fata He's "Operation Black Vote" had resulted in the election as a councillor of Chaz Singh, the deputy Lord Mayor of Plymouth and conference organiser. He said: "Chaz has set the benchmark and I am sure there are others in the community who will follow that example."
He said that when he came to Plymouth as a young Royal Marine in 1972 there were "only five of us" from the black and ethnic minorities.
Awards were presented during the conference.
Patriciah Petrie of Glamour Icons, who has worked with The Herald's Face of Plymouth contestants, won best Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) Business, an award nominated by Outset Plymouth.
Three awards sponsored by Fata He went to:
Astrid Nsana, an A-level student at Stoke Damerel Community College, and top performing female student in 20910/11. She was named Student Academic Achiever.
An Inspiration Award went to Plymouth Combined Projects, which is based at Lipson Community College.
BAME Volunteer of the Year was Sunder Braganza, a volunteer with Fata He.
Comments
by Vinnie_Gar
Monday, September 10 2012, 3:24PM
“It all looks like folk being angry and looking for a reason why.”
by JMonners
Monday, September 10 2012, 9:36AM
“Apologies website went a bit weird
"Can I also point out the "operation black vote" concept. This concept is claiming that the black vote resulted in the election Mr Singh.
This suggests that it was the black vote that gave him the majority, which is of course complete rubbish. Mr Singh was elected because he was a credible councillor proposition. Again why bring his colour or race into it. Imagine the uproar if there was an operation white vote. Some people are very good at inventing racism where racism doesnt exist”
by JMonners
Monday, September 10 2012, 9:33AM
“Can I also point out the "operation black vote" concept. This concept is claiming that the black vote resulted in the election Mr Singh.
This suggests that it was the black vote that gave him the majority, which is of course complete rubbish. Mr”
by JMonners
Monday, September 10 2012, 9:22AM
“but why mention the exclusion of black people at all??”
by jabbathebutt
Monday, September 10 2012, 9:15AM
“Even more socialist guilt claptrap being enforced upon the indiginous. These so called equality groups have a neat way of making people racist where none existed till they open their mouths and expect more than equality.”
by blogtodi
Monday, September 10 2012, 8:54AM
“In any multi-racial community there will be conflict in representation. Which group will represent all the others to the true satisfaction of all?
Ethnic groups appear to make up 8% of the poulation of the UK (2001 figures) and the government want that to be 20% by 2051. Should representation by one person be chosen from the 8%? I really don't know...the implications either way are staggering.
Remember a story from London where the police were criticised for stopping and searching more black youths than white? Although the police knew that the majority of crime in the area was perpetrated by black gangs they were forced to ignore that because it was deemed racist.
Although I would love all people of all races to live in harmony, I just don't see it happening in the short term. It's going to be a long, hard road.”
by PerryMary
Sunday, September 09 2012, 3:23PM
“P.S. Posted before completing my comment_
What Mr. Glover should have said is:
This election excludes the majority of people in Plymouth, including people from the black and ethnic minority community.”
by PerryMary
Sunday, September 09 2012, 3:20PM
“What a very narrow minded viewpoint from Mr. Glover.
The election of a Police and Crime Commissioner excludes the majority, not the minority, of people in Plymouth who cannot afford the five thousand pounds as an election deposit.
Many people of all ages and gender who work extremely hard for low wages cannot afford to find five thousand pounds, let alone risk not getting it back.
Many professional people, such as teachers, could not find five thousand pounds to put up for the deposit.
What about people on benefits who are unable to find work or who are unable to work because of illness?
What about retired people? Many retired people would have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience. But peole on a state pension are too hard up to find the money too.
In this day and age we should be aiming at equality, not dividing society by people like Mr. Glover making such an ill thought out statement as the Police Chief election "excludes people from the black and ethnic minority community".
This election excludes the majority of people in Plymouth regardless of their colour or race.”
by willems
Sunday, September 09 2012, 2:29PM
“BoredofPlym1: Whatever you were a director of,I sincerely hope it had nothing to do with education in general,and the teaching of the English language in particular.”
by Vinnie_Gar
Sunday, September 09 2012, 6:44AM
“mamouG
Lots of words but no answer to my point.”