‘Making ethnic lives matter’

MEASURES to tackle racism in Torbay have received the unanimous backing of the council’s cabinet, writes Philip Churm.

Councillors discussed a report from the Torbay Racism Review Panel, set up almost two years ago in response to the death of George Floyd at the hands of white US police officers and the worldwide demonstrations which followed.

The main focus of the review was How do we make Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) lives matter in Torbay?

Jermaine Atiya-Alla, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Ellacombe and chair of the panel, outlined the recommendations of the report to the cabinet. They include creating a new, full-time post for an equality and diversity officer, appointed only after consultation with Torbay’s ethnic minority communities.

Atiya-Alla said: “This reis just the first step and it will be an ongoing process to improve our approach to tackling racism, and making our services more accessible to people from ethnic minorities in Torbay.”