Bristol Copwatch

Christopher Alder: Family claims CPS promised not to prosecute police The sister of Christopher Alder, a black man who died in custody, makes fresh claims in a new book.

"His sister, Janet Alder, said there had been communication between Humberside Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in 2001, with the latter "promising the police they would not be prosecuted for manslaughter". #SayHisName #NoJusticeNoPeace
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Defiance 'This is a story - among many others - of justice denied. Fighting this battle over the past quarter of a century has been a lesson in collusion, cover-up an...

www.dialoguebooks.co.uk/titles/janet...

Vital reading and our hearts are always with #JanetAlder and so many families fighting for justice who have lost loved ones at the hands of the police. #SayHisName #ChristopherAlder #NoJusticeNoPeace

Defiance 'This is a story - among many others - of justice denied. Fighting this battle over the past quarter of a century has been a lesson in collusion, cover-up an...

www.dialoguebooks.co.uk/titles/janet...

www.bookhausbristol.com/events/

We're looking forward to a vital discussion on the police, unaccountable brutality and fights for the truth and justice at the #Defiance #BookHaus event on 3/12/25 at the #MalcolmX #ChristopherAlder #WeCopWatch

Big things are coming in 2026! Join us at the #ECC in February for what should be a truly awesome event. Look out for our Know Your Rights workshops in schools. If you share our concerns and you're a cop watcher or caseworker, then get involved. We see you because #WeCopWatch

Police and crime commissioners to be scrapped in England and Wales The government says it will save £100m over this Parliament and less than 20% of voters can name their PCC.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

It's always been a toothless public-facing role, but to many in our communities, the #PCC has at least been a point of contact towards accountability. Removing this position speaks volumes about the direction of policing in the UK. #WeCopWatch

a black background with the words hold police accountable in red ALT: a black background with the words hold police accountable in red

If you believe you have been impacted by predictive policing in your community or through the education system we would like to hear from you.

We are building a roadmap and community path to justice. We see you because #WeCopWatch #EndThinkSurveillance #StopAutomatedRacism

‘Damning’ review of anti-Black racism within Met police ‘buried’ by force Exclusive: External consultancy report found discrimination ‘baked into HR systems’ at London force

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

An external consultancy has revealed that discrimination is ingrained in the HR systems of the London force. #WeCopWatch

Racist police officer may have framed 100 innocent people 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.

metro.co.uk/2025/11/01/r...

"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." #WeCopWatch #SamePoliceStory

Road mapping paths to accountability 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…

copwatchersorg.wordpress.com/2025/11/08/r...
Bristol Copwatch advocates for justice and police accountability. Name the only sentence without a full stop, and you’ll find the Offender Management App. #WeCopWatch #stopautomatedracism

Stop Automated Racism 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:

www.amnesty.org.uk/predictive-p...
Amnesty International UK found that 75% of UK police forces use technology to "predict crime," resulting in racist outcomes. Few know this. We are challenging the Offender Management App and Think Family Education. We see you because #WeCopWatch 🕵️‍♂️

Stop and search, arrests, and mental health detentions, March 2025 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...

*NEWS* 'Stop and search, arrests, and mental health detentions, March 2025' shows a small decrease in stop-search volumes by the higher suspicion-led standard (section 1), in contrast to creeping rises in suspicionless searches (section 60, section 342E, section 11) 🧵 www.gov.uk/government/s...

Surveillance is not safe guarding 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.

chuffed.org/project/1285...
Police and surveillance don't belong in schools. We're raising funds for a film challenging Think Family Education, a predictive policing system. If you share our concerns, please donate and help spread the word! #EndThinkSurveillance 🎥

"There is the impact such technology has on our lives, and the harms of policing we must consider. Perpetual criminalisation is something I went through in my youth.." #stopautomatedracism

Terror definition too broad, Starmer to be told New advice could undermine the Palestine Action ban

The definition of terrorism isn't just too broad, or that it includes 'serious property damage'. It justifies surveillance, on behalf of oppressive regimes globally, of people resisting injustice. We need a proper debate about abolishing the Terrorism Act 2000 www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Road mapping paths to accountability 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…

copwatchersorg.wordpress.com/2025/11/08/r...
If you're considering action against predictive policing or believe you've been risk-scored by the Offender Management App, check out our Sunday long read, "Road mapping paths to accountability." You'll never walk alone. #StopAutomatedRacism

Predictive Policing and Subject Access Requests 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 …

Look out for our latest blog post, "Road mapping paths to accountability", a follow-up to "Predictive policing and subject access requests" over the weekend. #WeCopWatch #stopautomatedracism

copwatchersorg.wordpress.com/2024/04/23/p...

Predictive Policing and Community Organising – Justice, Equity & Technology ◼

justice-equity-technology.org/predictive-p...

This article is worth your time if you want to learn how to mobilise your community against predictive policing. Stay tuned for updates on our blog this weekend! #WeCopWatch #EndThinkSurveillance #StopAutomatedRacism

Bristol Copwatch 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.

chuffed.org/project/bris...
We're raising funds on #Chuffed to promote sustainability and prepare for the future. Our communityteam is monitoring police activities in Bristol and across the UK. Please share and donate! #WeCopWatch

Surveillance is not safe guarding 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.

chuffed.org/project/1285...

We're releasing a film short soon, but we need your help to raise £4,000! The impact of predictive policing and surveillance in schools is significant. Please share and donate! 🙏 #EndThinkSurveillance

“I Can’t Breathe” - Race, Restraint, and Policing Practices - Saunders Law 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...

www.saunders.co.uk/news/i-cant-...

It was great to connect with a school friend of Sean Rigg's during our community meeting at the #ECC on Thursday night. Thank you for your insights and for sharing your experiences. Rest in power, #SeanRigg. #NoJusticeNoPeace ✊🏿

www.police.uk/pu/your-area...

Here's an overview of #StopAndSearch in Avon and Somerset. The disparity is alarming, especially with unrecorded outcomes. We want copwatchers to be allies, not just bystanders to those on the sharp end of stop and search. #WeCopWatch

Avon & Somerset cop allegedly broke bail condition The officer faces a police misconduct hearing

www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerse...

Which goes to show some who claim to uphold the law have no respect for it themselves. #WeCopWatch

We are checking in with #ECC tomorrow about any issues with venue access or locating the community meeting. We understand plans change, but we were surprised by the Eventbrite ticket sale feedback! Thanks for donating. #WeCopWatch #Community

Local Police Monitoring: A Practical Guide - now available in print - Netpol 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 […]

netpol.org/2023/04/04/l...

We recommend this 2023 guide from #KevinBlowe of the awesome #Netpol on local independent police monitoring. It's vital work! #WeCopWatch

We're more than events and workshops. For over 5 years, we've supported our community against police misconduct. We monitor police locally and nationally and need copwatchers and case workers to step up. You're not alone—we're here for our community! #WeCopWatch

Thanks to everyone who attended our recent #ECC events! They were quieter than usual, but we'll return in 2026. Stay tuned for workshops on Copwatching, our rights, and predictive policing! Huge thanks to #StopWatch and #KenHinds for joining us. We see you because we #WeCopWatch

Surveillance is not safe guarding 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.

chuffed.org/project/1285...

We oppose policing playgrounds and challenge predictive surveillance in schools. #TFE's "Feels like working for the police" is not conducive to learning. Support the film. #EndThinkSurveillance 🎥

I’m in Prison. My Opera Was Performed at Carnegie Hall. - Joseph Wilson - Inquest Inside Sing Sing, I turned my twenty-five-year sentence into music fit for one of the world’s greatest stages.

"It was important to me to highlight the realities of incarceration. The audience has to witness the humiliation of a strip search, late-night conviction in a lonely cell, separation from loved ones." Joseph Wilson on composing an opera from prison & trying to reach audiences

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 RAW 2021: Know your rights!

www.youtube.com/watch
A fantastic video from the #StopWatch RAW festival 2021 highlights police overreach, #SAR requests, and our rights regarding #StopAndSearch. Join us this Thursday at the #ECC to examine community impact. #WeCopWatch 📽️👮‍♂️

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. They Don’t Protect Us- Jessica Pandian

www.youtube.com/watch

Jessica studies UK police use of force, including tasers and firearms, and the history of British policing. She has an MPhil in Latin American studies, focusing on anti-Black policing and racial resistance in Latin America and the Caribbean. #WeCopWatch