AN initiative has been set up in Bradford to monitor stop and searches carried out by police over fears people from minority communities are being targeted.

The Manningham Residents Association (MRA) announced the launch of its Police Race Monitoring Project on the 25th anniversary of 1995 Bradford riots.

It comes amid global protests against police brutality following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

MRA said: “With the death of George Floyd due to police brutality in America and the continued protests around the globe, including the UK, we cannot but remember the events in Manningham 25 years ago.

"On June 9, 1995 the Manningham Disturbances took place that impacted on the psyche of the community. It was the actions of the police that led to protests and deep local anger.

“We like all citizens of Manningham and Bradford wish to avoid such incidents occurring again. However, MRA is concerned by research highlighting stop and search bias towards our communities.

"Our concern is that from the data we have seen, November 2019 to April 2020, the Caribbean ethnic group is over-represented per 1,000 residents.

"Pakistani men feature high in this data also, especially in the actual number stopped overall during that period, and as Manningham has a significant make up of Pakistani males, we need to understand the information in more detail. 

"There is a concern that tensions will be raised by racialised policing.”

Dr Manawar Jan-Khan, spokesperson for MRA, said  further analysis of the data needs to take place. He said: “Stop and search is a crude way of targeting minority communities, especially young men.”

Dr Jan-Khan added that given the global spotlight on police behaviour, and 25 years on from the Manningham riots, it’s important to monitor “racialised policing”.

Superintendent Andrew Reid, of Bradford District Police, said stop and search powers are a vital tool, but West Yorkshire Police is “committed to openness and transparency”.

He said: “Our actions are subject to robust scrutiny and we were one of the first forces to join the Home Office Best Use of Stop and Search Scheme in 2015. It is our force policy to record every stop and search on body worn camera to further increase accountability and we also regularly speak with Bradford and force-level Independent Advisory Groups to see how we can improve the process.

“Figures show people from BAME backgrounds are generally overrepresented in stop and search figures nationally, and in the criminal justice system as a whole. Police forces and senior officers continue to examine disparity in stop and search data and work directly with local communities to listen to their concerns and explain the figures in greater detail.

“We have made greater efforts to include representatives from BAME communities in our scrutiny of stop and search to help build confidence in policing.

“Stop and search powers remain an important and appropriate tactic in the prevention and detection of crime; negating the need for an arrest to take place and the effective use of the powers means there are fewer victims of crime and more crimes detected.”

Information on how to join one of West Yorkshire Police’s scrutiny panels or Independent Advisory Groups can be found on the force’s website.