We are Better Together - Newsletter October 2022

More than 500 people from Gloucester turned out for the Better Together Community Sports and Fun Day this summer.

Families from across the surrounding area took part in an afternoon of sports and activities at Ribston Hall High School on 28 July.

The event was organised by the Community Legitimacy Panel (CLP) and Gloucestershire Constabulary to celebrate the wide diversity in our communities and to build trust between the Constabulary and the communities it serves.

As well as basketball, football and netball competitions, young and old were invited to have a go at scaling a climbing wall, competing in a tug-of-war, petting the police horses and getting behind the wheel of a police car.

A top barrister was also on hand to give advice and guidance regarding stop and search.

Among those coming along with their family was Adam Lewis and his 10-year-old daughter, Sarah.

Adam said: “It’s great to see the police taking the time to speak to the community and to learn more about what they are doing. It’s especially nice that children, like Sarah, are able to come along and learn more.”

Sarah added: “I really liked meeting the horses and being able to sit in the police car. I didn’t know how much the police actually do.”

Kate Powell had seen a flyer for the event and was intrigued to find out more. She said: “I wanted to learn more about the work being done with the community by the local police.

“I know they work hard, but so often it’s behind the scenes. You don’t realise quite how much is really happening. It was really interesting talking to officers about their role in the community.”

Six-year-old Thomas Keating was there with his family, sister Jo and mum Karen. He said: “I really enjoyed watching the football – they were really good. I want to be a policeman one day, so I liked talking to them [the police officers] about catching bad people.”

Teddy Burton, chairman of the CLP, emphasised the need for the police and the community to have positive interactions. He said: “When most people interact with the police, it will be in stressful situations.

“But since the job of keeping people safe from harm requires an interdependence between the police and the communities it serves, events such as this one are essential in building trust by just interacting on a human level through sports, music, sharing a meal and also having honest conversations about our rights and duties.”

Chief Superintendent Jane Probert said: “This was a fantastic event showing once again that we are better together and that we have more in common than we have differences.

“Our communities have a rich heritage of drawing people together regardless of background and our great diversity only helps to make us stronger.”