Members of black, minority and ethnic communities told police and crime commissioner (PCC) candidates last night that they have little trust or confidence in the police.

The four names battling for votes to be West Yorkshire’s PCC faced the public at a hustings at Kala Sangam in Bradford city centre.

More than 100 people gathered to quiz the candidates on policing priorities for Black, Minority and Ethnic (BME) communities.

Councillor Mark Burns-Williamson (Lab), Coun Geraldine Carter (Con), Coun Andrew Marchington (Lib Dem) and independent candidate Cedric Christie heard about alleged racism within West Yorkshire Police, unfair treatment of BME communities by officers, and poor completion rates on crimes reported by BME communities.

Saleem Khan, of the Bradford Council of Mosques, told the candidates: “One of the key challenges would be to restore trust and confidence of the BME community.”

He added: “The police does not reflect the local BME population.

“How will the candidates go about changing the culture of inequality?”

David Blair, a former West Yorkshire Police officer, told of his experiences of racism within the force.

Traveller Anne Sweeney told of police officers storming her caravan with guns while her seven-year-old son was inside with two friends.

She said: “Children need to know that not all the police are bad.”

Four youngsters called on the police to involve young people in decision-making, before asking candidates to sign a copy of a youth charter they had drawn up.

Signing meant the candidates pledged, if elected, to follow the five points of the charter.

The hustings heard about disproportionate stopping and searching of people in BME communities by police.

Independent candidate Cedric Christie, a former detective inspector, said everyone should be able to turn to the police if they have been a victim of crime and trust them.

He added: “No matter what your ethnic background is, you deserve a professional police service that will fully investigate your grievances.”

Coun Marchington said he would encourage members of BME communities to apply to become part of West Yorkshire Police.

Coun Carter said: “We want everyone to feel they are part of a community and that we can all trust police officers.”

Coun Burns-Williamson wants members of BME communities to join neighbourhood policing teams so they can “represent their own communities”.