News / UWE Bristol
‘I want to be able to trust the police’
“I want to be able to trust the police.” Those were the words spoken by a primary school pupil who contributed to a recent research project led by UWE Bristol on the lived experiences of racism in the UK.
The RESPECT project, a pioneering initiative, aims to transform police training in the UK by addressing the lived experiences of racism among children.
The national launch of the project took place on Monday at May Park Primary School in Eastville, with participation from Year 5 and Year 6 pupils, their teachers, and Dr Verity Jones, the research lead.
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Also in attendance were Andrew Varney, the lord mayor of Bristol City Council, and Lorraine Francis, the councillor for Eastville Ward.
May Park Primary school pupils premiere the animation that they have worked to create with UWE based on the children’s lived experiences of racism in the UK
A powerful video reflecting on primary school children’s experiences of racism was presented during the event. In collaboration with Avon and Somerset Police, UWE Bristol and Bristol-based CC Animation Studio produced an animation addressing issues of institutional racism within the police force.
The research, which engaged over 1,000 primary-aged children from diverse communities, uncovered a deeply concerning lack of trust between young people and the police. Many children expressed feeling “less safe” and “scared to leave home” due to their encounters, although they still longed for a trustworthy relationship with the police.
Speaking to Bristol24/7, Dr Verity Jones, associate professor in education at UWE Bristol, emphasised the project’s significance, stating that it provides crucial insight into the everyday experiences of racism faced by children.
She explained: “Today, at May Park School, we launched the RESPECT project’s animation, which is a direct response to the children of Bristol who, as part of our research a couple of years ago, shared their feelings of disappointment, fear, and anxiety regarding their relationship with the police. We took that feedback and created an animation, now set to be used in police training across Avon and Somerset.”
The project is unique in the UK for focusing on primary-aged children’s experiences of racism and its impact on mental health.
May Park Primary school pupils watching the premiere of the animation film that was created by CC Animation Studio in collaboration with Avon and Somerset Police and UWE Bristol
Dr Jones continued: “Before this project, no research had been conducted with children in the primary school age group. We’ve been working with nine to eleven-year-olds, exploring their experiences of racism and how these experiences affect their mental health.”
In partnership with Avon and Somerset Police, UWE Bristol will integrate these findings into its Professional Policing course, starting in September 2025.
The project aims to challenge racism within the police force by providing future officers with perspectives from underrepresented groups. These training materials will be part of a broader initiative to weave ‘lived experience’ into police education.
Luna, a pupil at May Park Primary School contributed to the project
PC Ryan Day from Avon and Somerset Police underscored the importance of understanding these young voices to reshape policing practices for a more inclusive future.
Speaking to Bristol24/7, PC Day remarked: “The project captures the voices of young people, particularly highlighting their negative perceptions of the police and the fear they feel towards us.
“The students involved are from Bristol’s diverse communities, and this project gave them the opportunity to speak openly about their fears, traumas, and the belief that the police are not there to keep them safe.”
The project is already having an impact, with Avon and Somerset Police incorporating its findings into their training.
PC Day added: “This animation will be part of the training for new officers, in collaboration with the University of the West of England. It will be shown to both new recruits and students, helping them engage with the topic.
“Additionally, it will be included in our ongoing ‘Race Matters’ training, meaning officers already in the force will also watch it and discuss the concerns of young people. This is a crucial step in improving understanding and fostering change.”
Emma Tovey, headteacher at May Park Primary School, spoke to Bristol24/7 about her pride in the pupils for voicing what matters to them.
She said: “We are extremely proud of them. It’s vital that all young children have the chance to express how they feel and share what’s important to them.
“Too often, children’s voices are overlooked, but here at May Park, we make it a priority to listen to our pupils, to understand their perspectives, and to make things better for them.”
When asked what she hoped to achieve through the initiative, Tovey added: “We want to bring together local faith leaders, the mayor, and our councillor to maintain regular communication with the university. By doing this, we aim to address the issues in our community from a child’s perspective, ensuring that the voices of our pupils continue to be heard and considered by adults.”
“Before this project (RESPECT), no research had been conducted with children in the primary school age group,” said Dr Verity Jones (left), research lead
This study is part of UWE Bristol’s RESPECT project, which began engaging with primary school-aged children in 2021 to highlight their experiences of racism in the UK. Along with its partners, the RESPECT team has developed resources to assist other police forces and emergency services.
Zach, a pupil at May Park who contributed to the project, expressed his disappointment with some long-standing prejudices. He said: “I learned that not all police officers are the same. Some are kind, some are rude, some are respectful, and some are not. I want police officers to stop assuming that Black youth are the problem.”
RESPECT project began in 2021 to amplify the lived experiences of racism among primary school children in Bristol and the UK.
All photos: Freia Turland
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