Exclusive: External consultancy report found discrimination ‘baked into HR systems’ at London force

DS Derek Ridgewell targeted mostly black people in the 1970s, who he falsely accused of robbery and beat up if they tried to resist arrest, before fabricating a semi-confession and lying on oath so they would be convicted.

By John Pegram, founder, caseworker, public speaker Afternoon, fellow copwatchers! As the end of 2025 approaches at a rate of knots, it seems only right to update you all on current developments wi…

Amnesty International UK found out that 3/4 of police forces across the UK are using technology to try to “predict crime”, but it is having racist and discriminatory impacts. Almost no one knows about it. Learn more:

Statistics on stop and search, arrests for notifiable offences. This release will also include statistics on detentions under Section 135 and Section 136 of the Mental Health Act previously included i...

Think Family Education (TFE)  is an app that has been in use in schools for several years, in fact The Bristol Cable first reported on TFE in 2021.  The app is connected to a council and police database.

New advice could undermine the Palestine Action ban

By John Pegram, founder, caseworker, public speaker Afternoon, fellow copwatchers! As the end of 2025 approaches at a rate of knots, it seems only right to update you all on current developments wi…

By John Pegram, case worker, public speaker, founder If you’ve been keeping tabs on all things police in Bristol and across Avon and Somerset you’d be right in thinking there’s a …

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Bristol Copwatch is a community project and a fiercely independent police monitoring group. We are a small core team of activists and community members who monitor the police locally on the street and across the UK. We believe in building relationships via outreach in local communities in Bristol, we offer workshops and training events and are advocates and case workers for those on the sharp end of abuse of power.

Think Family Education (TFE)  is an app that has been in use in schools for several years, in fact The Bristol Cable first reported on TFE in 2021.  The app is connected to a council and police database.

On 21 August 2008, Sean Rigg died at Brixton Police Station after experiencing a mental health crisis. He was stopped by officers and kept in a dangerous prone position in...

Number of stop and searches by outcome per month.

The officer faces a police misconduct hearing

Local Police Monitoring – A Practical Guide Author: Kevin BlowePublished by: NetpolISBN: 978-1-3999-4675-9Published in print: March 2023 Local independent police monitoring groups in the 1980s and 1990s understood that to survive and sustain themselves meant more than simply documenting local policing issues. It meant seeking accountability by challenging state power: in particular the power of […]

Think Family Education (TFE)  is an app that has been in use in schools for several years, in fact The Bristol Cable first reported on TFE in 2021.  The app is connected to a council and police database.

Inside Sing Sing, I turned my twenty-five-year sentence into music fit for one of the world’s greatest stages.

This three-part session examines the ways in which police overreach happens, raising awareness of the techniques officers use against civilians, and equipping people with the knowledge to defend themselves and seek justice. Featuring: Juliet Spender, IRWIN MITCHELL LLP, STOPWATCH Benson Egwuonwu, STOPWATCH John Pegram, BRISTOL COPWATCH

One of the wonderful speakers from our June 2021 event “They Don’t Protect Us”, a history of police and monitoring groups presented by Bristol Copwatch in affiliation with the Institute of Race Relations. Jessica works on the use of force by the UK police, from the low-level to tasers and firearms, and on the historic continuities of British policing. Jessica has an MPhil in Latin American studies, in which she researched anti-Black policing, histories of gang violence, and racial resistance across Latin America and the Caribbean. She is currently working with the Institute of Race Relations and Inquest while also volunteering with the Independent Film Trust on projects relating to British History. Stay up to date with any future events at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/bristol-copwatch-32610654769 Subtitles will be available shortly.

Join us with guest speakers in creating a space to share, learn and get involved in local community groups.