A NEW independent public scrutiny board has been formed to monitor and support progress made in work to achieve race equality by criminal justice system agencies in Avon and Somerset. 

The board, named the Tackling Racial Disproportionality Independent Scrutiny Board (ISB), is made up of nine influential individuals from across the Avon and Somerset area, who will bring their professional expertise and personal lived experiences to help make sure lasting change and equity are achieved in the criminal justice system. 

Desmond Brown, who will chair the new board, said: "I am very excited that we have reached this point with a truly amazing board. The expertise they bring to this space I believe will be transformational. We want to collaborate with criminal justice statutory partners, but also realise that this work will be uncomfortable and challenging for everyone."

Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford chairs the Local Criminal Justice Board and has brought together senior leaders from all the criminal justice agencies involved to act. He said: “It’s vital all the organisations involved in delivering the criminal justice system work together to remove discrimination in that very system.

“The Identifying Disproportionality Report shone a light clearly on the disproportionality that exists for Black, Asian, and minoritised people. It asked the agencies to make change and reform, or to explain why the disproportionality is happening.

“I’m grateful to the eight individuals who have joined the original author of the report Desmond Brown - to create the newly appointed Scrutiny Board.”