‘I wanted to present a human side’: West Midlands police’s artist in residence on building bridges

Kay Rufai hopes to reduce youth violence and racial stereotyping in his project for Coventry city of culture

Stories of the disintegrating relationship between the police and young black people are endless, but an artist behind an unlikely new project hopes he can help break down barriers.

Kay Rufai was enlisted by West Midlands police last year to be their artist in residence - thought to be a first for a police force. He has spent several months taking photographs and film of officers and young, mostly black people who have had dealings with the police. The images were then presented to police in order to spark a conversation and challenge their preconceptions".