Over the years there have been multiple reports exploring racial disproportionality within the criminal legal system, highlighting institutional racism within policing, and making multiple recommendations needed for change.
Evidencing the need for action
From ‘The Scarman Report’ (1981) and ‘The McPhearson Report’ (1999) to more recently ‘The Identifying Disproportionality in Avon and Somerset Criminal Justice System’ (2022) and ‘Baroness Casey Review’ (2023) quantitative and qualitative research has evidenced the existence of institutional racism as well as the lack of progress that has been achieved in improving Black people’s lived experience of policing.
Although these reports have played an integral role in evidencing racial disproportionality, Black people do not need to be told, they have lived this, they have protested for reform, they have fought for change, and they continue to call for action. Their voices and lived experience have been seldom heard and even silenced as Black people continue to be ‘done to’ even in relation to policing policy and strategy that has detrimental impact on their lives.
Police Race Action Plan and Race Matters
In May 2022, The National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) and College of Policing (CoP) published The Police Race Action Plan. It outlined the responsibilities of the police service to ensure that Black people are not under protected, over policed, but involved and represented, this includes proactive involvement in governance, oversight, and scrutiny processes.
Following this, Avon and Somerset Police developed their Race in Policing Project and Race Matters workstream, with the vision of creating an anti-racist police force and delivering a police service that Black people could trust. In 2023, Avon and Somerset Police’s Chief Constable Sarah Crew made the declaration:
“When it comes to race, I’m in no doubt that, by Baroness Casey’s criteria at least, Avon and Somerset Police is institutionally racist”
Chief Constable Sarah Crew, BBC News 2023
It was an acknowledgement long overdue for Black communities, and was welcomed as recognition for what they had experienced for years.
With this acknowledgement, The Police Race Action Plan and Avon and Somerset Police’s Race Matters work, there was an opportunity for Black people’s voices to be centred, for Black communities to be involved, consulted and to co-design to affect real change.
The introduction of ISAB
In accordance with the plan, and to ensure the authenticity of work being undertaken by Avon and Somerset Police, an external and independent scrutiny function was imperative. This led to the formation of The Independent Advisory and Scrutiny Board (ISAB) and introduction of the board in 2025.
The Independent Advisory and Scrutiny Board (ISAB) leads in holding Avon and Somerset Police to account, scrutinising progress and highlighting Black voices and lived experience.
ISAB provides oversight of the Race Matters programme and Avon and Somerset Police, increasing the legitimacy of the work and ensuring progress and impact is not just measured internally, but by those with lived experience and with race equality expertise.
Looking to the future
Since its establishment, the ISAB has focused on building strong foundations to ensure it can operate with credibility, independence, and impact. Board members have undertaken training to develop a shared understanding of the Race Matters programme, governance structures, pillar priorities, and the complexities of police data. This has been essential in enabling robust scrutiny and identifying clear areas of focus grounded in both evidence and lived experience.
Alongside this, the Board has worked to understand the wider local and national landscape relating to race and policing. Membership has recently expanded to widen the diversity of experience and voice represented, strengthening the Board’s ability to reflect the concerns of Black communities across Avon and Somerset.
Looking ahead, ISAB is focused on increasing transparency and deepening engagement with Black communities. This includes launching community-facing activity, establishing clear mechanisms to gather and feedback community voice, and improving how findings and recommendations are shared. These steps are central to ensuring the Board is not only holding Avon and Somerset Police to account, but is itself accountable to the communities it represents.
Moving forward, ISAB will continue to develop as a trusted, independent voice within the Race Matters programme, committed to challenging institutional racism, scrutinising progress, and advocating for meaningful change that leads to improved trust, fairness, and safety for Black communities.
Further information
Find out more about on What we do, including examples of projects the board have been involved in.