Black people in Avon and Somerset are almost four times more likely to experience forceful policing compared to their white counterparts, according to new Home Office figures.

The data reveals that police in the region used forceful tactics, such as restraint and unarmed use of force, 67 times per 1,000 black residents in the year to March 2024, compared to 17 times per 1,000 white residents. This means black individuals are 3.9 times as likely to encounter force from Avon and Somerset Constabulary as white individuals.

The figures reflect a national trend, with people from black ethnic groups across England and Wales, excluding the Metropolitan Police, being 3.2 times as likely to be subject to forceful policing as white individuals.

Stephen Walcott, senior researcher at the Runnymede Trust, described the disparities as "shameful" and called for a shift in policing strategies. "We must look towards alternatives to crime and harm prevention, which reduce police contact and eliminate reliance on 'tough on crime' approaches," he said. Walcott emphasised the need for community investment to tackle the root causes of crime and minimise harm.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary recorded 33,000 instances of police force tactics in the year to March 2024, with 2,552 involving black individuals and 27,320 involving white individuals.

Nationally, police forces in England and Wales recorded 1.1 million instances of forceful tactics over the same period, an 8% increase from the previous year. The most common justification for using force was officers protecting themselves from harm.

A spokesperson for the National Police Chiefs' Council said it is committed to addressing racial disparities in policing through the Police Race Action Plan, which aims to build an "inclusive, anti-racist organisation" and reduce discrimination faced by black people in interactions with the police.

The Home Office also emphasised the need for accountability in policing. "All police use of force should be reasonable, proportionate, and necessary," a spokesperson said. "When officers take the difficult decision to deploy force, they are accountable through the law for their actions."

The Runnymede Trust has urged police forces to explore alternative approaches to crime prevention that focus on community and societal improvements rather than punitive measures. Walcott warned that increasing use of forceful tactics is both "violent and harmful" and called for meaningful investment in communities to address social conditions that lead to crime.

As scrutiny continues, both local and national policing bodies have pledged to better understand and address the disproportionality in how race and ethnicity feature in police use of force. However, campaigners argue that significant reform is needed to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all.

The figures come at a time of increasing focus on police accountability and the need to build trust with marginalised communities. While progress is being promised, campaigners say much work remains to be done to ensure policing is fair, just, and inclusive.