Last night POPS hosted the second Anderson Lectures at Manchester Metropolitan University. Attended by representatives from the voluntary, statutory and academic sectors, the lecture sought to bring to the fore the issues facing BME offenders and discuss approaches which work to improve outcomes. The event particularly highlighted the essential role of the voluntary sector and community-based organisations in engaging effectively with individuals from diverse communities.
We were delighted to welcome Baroness Young who presented the recommendations and guidelines arising from the The Young Review. Baroness Young began her address by considering the key statistics around young black and/or Muslim men in prison which painted a bleak picture. In her opening comments Baroness Young stressed that nearly all offenders met during the course of the review had experienced differential treatment due to their race, ethnicity or faith. Her concise and insightful summary of the review highlighted the need to understand the implications of stereotyping and disadvantage and concluded with the challenge ‘what kind of society do we want to live in?’. You can read the review and it’s recommendations here.
Click here to download the powerpoint slides from Baroness Young’s Presentation.
‘Fantastic event’
The event also featured ‘Inside Out’ the ground-breaking documentary from Bringing Hope which explores the real life experiences of BME offenders and the challenges they face as they transition from prison into the community. You can view the trailer here. This powerful docu-film underscored the role of community agencies in engaging with diverse communities in a manner which understands the particular challenges BME offenders face around employment, housing, community ties and faith.
‘Very informative and interesting’
Visit our twitter feed to find out what attendees thought of the event.
If you are interested in the issues facing BME offenders and would like to find out more, POPS are hosting an event on Thursday 16th April in partnership with BTEG. The event will consider the learning from the Young Review recommendations and the role of TR providers and local criminal justice agencies in delivering improved outcomes for BME offenders.
Find out more and book your place by clicking here.
