A letter to the Chief Constable about an appalling article in Broadgate News

Chief Constable Steve Finnigan

Lancashire Constabulary Headquarters
PO Box 77,
Hutton, Preston,
Lancashire, PR4 5SB.

30 January 2008

Dear Mr Finnegan,

I am writing to express my grave concern about the latest issue of Broadgate News, a newsletter published by the Broadgate Residents Action Group, who are in partnership with and scarcely indistinguishable from the local PACT group. As a local resident I regularly have the publication dropped through my letter box. While I often find the content, especially the police reports negative and boring, I can see the value of a local community newsletter and some place for policing news within it. I also need to tell you that I was involved in the early days of the PACT meetings and BRAG group, out of a general desire to be active in the community and to support in broad outline community policing work, much of which is very good. Indeed the hard work and style of policing in by the beat officers and PCSO's in Broadgate is generally to be welcomed. However, I am no longer involved with BRAG as I feel it is dominated by one section of the community who have totally negative and right wing punitive attitudes towards offenders, and express offensive stereotypes of young people to such an extent that I cannot work with them. I need also to explain that I am an active member of St Stephen's church and am aware that the vicar and other members of the church have been involved and helpful to BRAG and PACT.

Therefore when I saw the latest issue of the newsletter in the foyer of the church ready to be delivered I took a look at it and was horrified when I saw the centrespread article. This develops a short article written by a member of the police entitled 'ASBO boy to be released' (in Broadgate police report p9), into a feature "Keeping crime off the streets of Preston" (p12 & 13). I would say both articles are inappropriate, needlessly offensive and inflammatory. They contain personal information about a young member of the local community, scarcely more than a child, who has been convicted and served a sentence and is now subject to an ASBO. Personally I have strong objections to the ASBO legislation especially as an additional punishment after release, and cannot see how it can be effective in reducing or dealing with crime. However, I recognise it is the law of the land and the police may be within their legal rights to publicise personal details. But I think you would be wise to do this sparingly, and certainly not in this case.

The article I am indignant about includes the address of the offender, and his release date, thus exposing not just him but all members of his family to un-welcome public attention and stigma, and being near to implicitly giving permission for members of the community to attack them, even violently. The tone of the articles are judgemental and vigilante in style and does absolutely nothing to aid community policing or building relationships or enhancing community cohesion. Worst of all is the photo. The quality of the image is poor and has been grossly distorted in such a way that it panders to the most offensive racial stereotyping. My first reaction was to think that publishing such an image in this context must contravene the human rights legislation, and might well be seen as committing the offence of incitement to racial hatred. I am sure this is not the impression that the constabulary wish to give, considering their serious and commendable attempts in recent to develop and implement a progressive diversity policy.

I first expressed by concerns about this issue in the middle of this week to other members of the church and our vicar, saying strongly that we could not allow the name of our church, and articles written on behalf of the church to go out alongside the offensive article, which directly contradicts a number of Christian principles about justice, grace, forgiveness and the possibility of redemption. They were convinced by these arguments and earlier today our vicar contacted your colleague David Foreshaw. I understand he recognised there was a problem and commendably promised immediate action to stop the magazine being delivered. We are working on a plan to replace the offending centrespread article with something more constructive, so that the church will be able to live a little more comfortably with the newsletter. However, for me personally, and for others close to me, damage has already been done. Renewing confidence in the police service will require some hard work, and further support of BRAG and the PACT process will be called into question.

I hope you and the authorities generally will learn some lessons from this incident and would suggest the questions to be raised about community policing include the following.

• In publications with community partners such as Broadgate News who should have editorial oversight, and what standards should be set?

• How can circulating information about crime and policing in local communities, especially at the level of detail we have seen in Broadgate News, do anything other than increase the fear of crime in the community, even at a time when crime statistics show downward trends?
• How far is it right for the police to work mainly with self selecting community groups such as BRAG which tend to attract only people of a particular mindset, which may be at odds with other groups and sections of the community? What can be done to engage in dialogue with people who are currently excluded from the dialogue offered by PACT because of its culture and mindset?
• How can we ensure in such mixed communities that particular minority groups, such as ethnic minorities, or my own teenage kids and their friends are not unfairly stigmatised by the use of terms such as "anti social behaviour" and "hoodies" and the connotations that go with them?
• How can we ensure that offenders, particularly young offenders, many of whom struggle against the effects of difficult home backgrounds, and deprived circumstances, are given the best chance to develop constructive and pro-social lifestyles? And for those who have been convicted what are the best ways to maximise the chance of rehabilitation and reintegration into community life?

I realise that the last question in particular goes beyond the remit of the police alone, but is a wider question for criminologists, politicians and social and community workers, though it is hard to debate rationally in a context dominated by "tabloid headline culture".

I would value your response to this letter, and assurances that such problems will not arise again. I am sending copies of this letter to my MP, local councillors, and the secretary of BRAG.

Yours sincerely