West Midlands PCC: Democractic path needed not 'mob rule' over statues
The West Midlands Police and Crime commissioner has said it "can't be the rule of the mob" to take down statues amid the Black Lives Matter movement.
David Jamieson says the removal of statues should be done in a "democratic way".
It comes as protesters have been targeting statues of people - linked to the slave trade - in the UK. Protests have followed the killing of George Floyd while in police custody in the US.
A statue of slave trader Edward Colston was taken down by protestors in Bristol earlier this month, before being thrown into the water. It has since been recovered.
Avon and Somerset Police officers made the decision not to intervene during the incident because commanders felt arresting protesters would have lead to a "very violent confrontation".
Asked if he would have liked West Midlands Police officers to stand back in that situation, Mr Jamieson said: "I can't speak for the Avon and Somerset Police who cover Bristol but the police officers, clearly, they were outnumbered in that area and it was a very, very, challenging policing exercise for them.
"I have had detailed discussions with the chief constable [of West Midlands Police]. Even this morning we have been discussing the issue as it relates to our own area.
"There has been some false stories about some of the people who have statues in the area [West Midlands] where people are making out that they have been involved in slavery when clearly their association is marginal.
"But on the other hand, I think most historians, including some black historians, are saying the same thing.
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"If we are going to take these statues down and do it in a democratic way, it can't be the rule of the mob that takes these statues down and makes these changes.
"In the end by tearing things down, you don't actually build things up.
"What I have been saying in the last few days is we can tear things down, that is an easy way of doing it, we can all feel better at the end of it.
Assured
"But you know, we have actually got to build something up and deal with the real injustices that are there and that is a more complicated thing to do.
"The West Midlands Police officers, the Chief Constable, has assured me that they will deal with any law breaking in a proportionate manner."
Today, Mr Jamieson announced he will recruit 1,000 new officers from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities.
He said police officers from BAME backgrounds currently make up 11 per cent of West Midlands Police.
But he says the recruitment of 1,000 new recruits from BAME backgrounds will bring the ratio to about 20 per cent.
"But after that is done, there is more work to do, because that is not a full reflection of the community," he said.
Mr Jamieson also expressed concerns around social-distancing at protests in the West Midlands as part of the Black Lives Matter movement.
He added: "On the spread on the virus and the protests, yes, we have great concerns about that.
"It is not within the remit of the police to enforce social distancing. We enforce the law and we enforce where that is appropriate.
"It is difficult balancing people's rights in a democracy to protest. This is why want to talk in more detail to organisers of these rallies.
"We don't want to stop them happening. We want them to go ahead in a way that is safe for those taking part and their relatives and other people that may be associated with them."
