Progress against the national Race Action Plan and local issues are expected to be covered as those in charge of Gloucestershire Constabulary face questions from the public in Gloucester later this week.
Senior leaders from the Constabulary, including Chief Constable Rod Hansen and Deputy Chief Constable Shaun West, will be present to interact with the community.
The Community Engagement Forum is taking place between 6.30pm and 8.30pm on Thursday (12 January), at the Church of God of Prophecy, 25 Melbourne Street East, and anyone interested in asking questions or sharing what they think should be priorities where they live is encouraged to come along.
The Forum is organised in conjunction with the Community Legitimacy Panel, which holds the Constabulary to account around issues raised by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people in the county. Its chair, Teddy Burton, will be there to facilitate the discussion.
The panel reviews the Constabulary's work in a wide range of areas including use of force, stop and search and recruitment and progression and makes recommendations for policy and operational changes.
With the Constabulary committed to the national Race Action Plan recently launched by the College of Policing and National Police Chiefs' Council, Thursday night will also present another opportunity for people to ask how the Constabulary is addressing racial inequality.
Community Legitimacy Panel Chair Teddy Burton said: "Both recent and historical events have brought policing under particular scrutiny and the decisions now made by police leaders will determine whether they can recover and improve the trust and confidence of the public.
"Events such as this forum will be important in that process. It is essential that the communities served by the police know that they are being listened to and that the requisite changes to bring about effective and equitable policing are being implemented.''
Deputy Chief Constable Shaun West said: "This is the first community engagement forum I've attended since joining Gloucestershire but I'm hoping it will build on what's gone before.
"It's rare to get so many senior leaders together for a public event and it demonstrates our commitment to listening to all feedback from the local community and explaining what we are doing with openness and transparency.
"We really do welcome all views, particularly when it comes to the Race Action Plan, as success hinges us on us bringing everyone along with us."
It is hoped the Community Engagement Forum will foster open, honest dialogue and improved trust and confidence in the Constabulary.
Organisers also want it to encourage interest in the Community Legitimacy Panel and other scrutiny panels the Constabulary runs.
Information about the Community Legitimacy Panel can be found here: www.gloucestershire.police.uk/police-forces/gloucestershire-constabulary/areas/gloucestershire/about-us/about-us/Community-Legitimacy-Panel/
The Constabulary also runs a Stop and Search Panel for community members and regularly publishes information, minutes and statistics on how it uses the power: www.gloucestershire.police.uk/police-forces/gloucestershire-constabulary/areas/gloucestershire/about-us/about-us/our-approach-to-stop-and-search/
Similarly, information and minutes from the Constabulary's Use of Force scrutiny panel, which regularly reviews individual incidents to ensure force is being used appropriately, can be viewed here: www.gloucestershire.police.uk/police-forces/gloucestershire-constabulary/areas/gloucestershire/about-us/about-us/our-approach-to-stop-and-search/
A Caribbean buffet will be available to those attending the event on Thursday night and parking is available at Kingfisher Church, Moor Street, Gloucester, GL1 4NJ.
