UCU: Oppose the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

Motion

Motion text: Congress notes:
1. The government’s new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is giving wide ranging new powers to a force mired in institutional racism and sexism with BLM, environmental campaigners and the GRT community specifically targeted and facing yet more repression.
2. In the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard the handling of the vigil that followed her death and the ‘selfies’ taken by officers at the murder scene of Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry are just two examples of the institutional sexism and misogyny that riddles the force.
Congress believes:
a. The extension of police powers has systematically led to attacks on minority communities, such as the disproportionate use of stop and search – specifically section 60 – on black communities.
Congress resolves:
i. To oppose all extensions of police powers to a force that has systematically failed to deal with institutional racism and sexism in its ranks and which remains institutionally racist and sexist.

Proposing body: Composite (Croydon College, Women members standing committee)