Policing in multicultural cities to be explored

Policing in multicultural cities will come under the spotlight during a public event at our University at 6pm on Monday 3 July.

In partnership with The Race Equality Centre and Civic Leicester, the Unit for Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement (DICE), which is a part of our University’s School of Media, Communication and Sociology, will be hosting a free public lecture considering the challenges of policing a city as diverse as Leicester.

Taking place at 6pm on Monday 3 July in Ken Edwards Lecture Theatre 1, the event will include a speech by Leicestershire Constabulary’s Chief Constable Simon Cole QPM. Introduced by the University’s President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Boyle, the Chief Constable will discuss the ways in which Leicestershire Constabulary encourages community cohesion, the changing patterns of crime and how police budget reductions are affecting the police’s ability to enforce the law.

Professor Surinder Sharma and John Williams, from our University's School of Media, Communication and Sociology, said: “Recent events in Manchester and in London both at Westminster Bridge, London Bridge and Finsbury Park Mosque have propelled discussions on policing much more in the eyes of the public and the media.

“The Police today are involved in a wide range of activities, of which detecting crime and apprehending criminals is only one part. I think that the members of the public are more directly involved about the debate about policing and what type of police force we want, especially in complex cities and counties with multi-faith and multiracial populations, where there may not always be clear agreement."