What Does Policing by Consent Look Like for Black Communities in Birmingham?

It’s a phrase we hear often — policing by consent.

But for many Black people, it does not reflect lived experience.

In the West Midlands, Black people are three times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people, and those encounters are less likely to lead to further action. This gap raises serious questions about fairness, effectiveness, and trust.

The Birmingham Black Policing Charter starts from that reality.

The Charter is a joint initiative between the Birmingham Race Impact Group (BRIG), the Alliance for Police Accountability, and Action for Race Equality, with support from the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.

It forms part of a wider national effort to address long-standing mistrust between Black communities and the police, while aiming to go further.

This is not just about gathering views—it is about influence.

The goal is to create a process where Black communities help shape what policing looks like in practice, from the use of powers such as stop and search to broader issues of accountability, transparency, and safety.

As Lee Jasper, a national lead on the work, stated in a BBC Radio WM interview, this is an opportunity to define what 21st-century anti-racist policing should look like—done in partnership with local police services.

Trust cannot be rebuilt through statements alone. It depends on whether lived experiences are reflected in policing practices and whether community voices lead to real change.

Community Listening Event

Date: 22 April
Time: 10:00am – 12:00 noon
Venue: BRIG Café at the Warehouse,
54–57 Allison Street, Birmingham B5 5TH

Senior police representatives—including the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office, a Chief Superintendent, and the Acting Chief Constable—will attend.

The purpose is simple: to hear directly from the community.

• What needs to change?

• What would fair and accountable policing look like in practice?

• What would it take for consent to have real meaning?

This is about honest input, not polished answers.

The Charter will only be as strong as the voices shaping it—including those with direct experience, those who feel unheard, and young people who will live with the outcomes.