The #Manchester10 case exposes the unjust nature of 'gang narratives' in policing.

Despite having never been involved in violence, some of the young Black men were convicted under conspiracy.

Our original open letter to the Mayor of Greater Manchester, signed by 15 civil society groups lays out the injustices resulting from racialised surveillance in UK #policing, such as with Project Alpha that trawls social media to criminalise people of colour.

Read more. #precrime

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/end-racialised-surveillance/

In March we sent an open letter to Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, to end discriminatory police practices following the case of the #Manchester10.

While the reply committed to a review of Joint Enterprise, the application of digital evidence must be considered, as it's misused to created tenuous 'gang narratives'. This racialised construct is weaponised to draw flawed conclusions that entrenches racial injustice.

Our response ⤵️ #precrime #policing

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/publications/manchester-10-response-to-andy-burnham/

We sent an open letter to the Mayor of Greater Manchester and GM Police with 14 other civil society groups, calling for the end to the discriminatory police practice of weaponising data and content. This leads to racialised prosecutions, as seen in the case of the #Manchester10.

#policing #surveillance #racialinjustice #precrime

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/end-racialised-surveillance/

The misuse of personal data, content and private chats tells of a worrying trajectory: the increasing weaponisation of data in UK #policing and the #criminaljusticesystem.

Convicted of being guilty by association, the #Manchester10 will collectively serve 131 years, despite most of the boys not being involved in any harm. This miscarriage of justice entrenches racism and denies communities of their potential.

ORG’s Sophia Akram, explains the trend towards #PreCrime. https://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/whats-wrong-with-gang-surveillance-in-the-uk/

⚠️ The reliance on content, whether on social media or private messages, to make tenuous links to crimes is a worrying trend towards a #PreCrime agenda that disproportionately criminalises communities of colour.

That's why we've sent an open letter to Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, and GM Police to end 'gangs' policing and dismantle 'gangs' databases.

📖 Read our letter: https://www.openrightsgroup.org/publications/manchester-10-open-letter-asks-andy-burnham-to-tackle-discriminatory-gang-surveillance/

📺 Watch 'Jailed Over a Group Chat' about the #Manchester10: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/jailed-over-a-group-chat-untold/on-demand/74753-001

The conviction of the #Manchester10 is racial injustice. How can people be found guilty by association from misused digital evidence when most weren't involved in any violence? For being in a group chat. For shared music interest.

The police concocted a story that they were part of a 'gang' based on online activity, particularly drill lyrics. Data was weaponised – profiling based on racialised stereotypes about criminality – to connect young Black men in a conspiracy.

https://abcnews.go.com/International/jailed-group-chat-drill-music-uk-trials-sparks/story?id=96396214