The gutless bullies of London police

They were too gutless to take on the rioters but in the dark of night with no-one watching they're really aggressive. The British police used to be a fine body of men beloved of their communities. They are now only a shadow of their former selves

Scotland Yard was last night plunged into its most serious racism crisis since the death of Stephen Lawrence. Ten serious complaints of racist behaviour by officers have been passed to the independent police watchdog, the Metropolitan Police revealed.

In total, 20 officers are being investigated in relation to the ten claims. The Met’s under-fire leaders are braced for further revelations after commissioning a wholesale review of all similar complaints.

They were forced to reveal the full shocking scale of the scandal following a public outcry over the treatment of a young black man in the back of a police van.

Eight officers and one civilian employee of the London force are now suspended from duty as a result of an internal inquiry into several incidents.

The latest allegations include a sergeant and two constables accused of using racist language in the Olympic borough of Newham.

The claim is particularly damaging because the borough in East London was also the scene of the incident involving Mr Demetrio. He has also complained that he witnessed a 15-year-old black boy being kicked and taunted while he was being held at Forest Gate police station.

The Met revealed two officers have been suspended in Wandsworth, South-West London, over claims they subjected a colleague to racist bullying.

And an inquiry continues into allegations that five riot squad officers subjected several children to a racist attack in Hyde Park last year.

A constable and civilian employee based in Islington are accused of using racist language and another officer was recently convicted of a racist public order offence on a train.

Another case involves a constable accused of mishandling calls from ethnic minority victims of crime. Bevan Powell, chairman of the Met’s Black Police Association, said the crisis is a ‘wake-up call for the entire criminal justice system’.

He called on senior officers to carry out an urgent review of the recommendations of the Macpherson report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence in a racist attack in Eltham, South-East London, in 1993.

It accused the Met of ‘institutional racism’ that undermined the original murder inquiry.

Mr Powell added: ‘There can be no room for any form of racism within the Met or any other force. The spotlight is on the entire criminal justice system and it must examine itself in terms of where it is and how robust it is at stamping out any racism.’

The Met has been on the back foot all week over allegations of racism following the publication of the damning recording exposing Mr Demetrio’s treatment.

He went public after a junior Crown Prosecution Service lawyer ruled no offence had taken place. A review of that decision is now under way.

Police raided his home the day after he made the racism complaint and seized a plasma TV claiming it was stolen in the riots last summer. He later produced a receipt. [They should all be fired]

Deputy Commissioner Craig Mackey said: ‘Earlier this week I commissioned a review of complaints relating to alleged racism to check the progress of ongoing cases.

‘We have been working closely with the Independent Police Complaints Commission on this. We have referred seven cases to the IPCC, in addition to the three cases already reported.

‘As the review continues there may be further referrals. The Met does not tolerate racism.’

Two of the PCs and an Acting Police Sergeant based in Newham, have been placed on restricted duties after being referred to the IPCC following allegations - alleged to have happened between January 6 and March 15 - of racist comments being made within a group of officers.

Commander Peter Spindler said: 'These are serious allegations that are being thoroughly investigated so that robust action can be taken if proven.

'The Commissioner has already stated there is no place for racist behaviour in the MPS and we will work with the IPCC to identify any wrongdoing.'

The complaint was made to the force’s internal conduct body before Mr Hogan-Howe said: 'I will not stand for any racism or racists'.

The police chief had been forced to speak out after incidents on August 11 last year as police officers in London dealt with the fallout of the riots sweeping the capital.

Commissioner Mike Franklin said: 'Naturally members of the public are going to have concerns that this again involves officers based in Newham Borough and I have asked the Metropolitan Police Service what measures they have in place to ensure allegations of this nature are not more widespread.

'It is right that allegations of racism provoke public outcry which is why I have determined these allegations will receive the full independent scrutiny of the IPCC.

'Undoubtedly, these are very serious allegations and I would like to reassure the Newham community and wider public, that we are conducting a full, thorough and independent investigation to establish the facts behind these allegations.'

This is the third independent investigation the IPCC is currently conducting involving officers from Newham Borough.

The other investigations involve a 15-year-old boy who was allegedly assaulted by an officer at Forest Gate Police Station and an allegation a 21-year-old man was the victim of racist remarks and assault by MPS officers.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe held a crisis meeting of his top team today as he seeks to defuse a growing scandal.

The case has angered anti-racism campaigners, who claim it is ‘by no means unusual’ and praised Mr Demetrio’s ‘foresight and courage’ in recording it.

PC MacFarlane was suspended from duty as the Independent Police Complaints Commission examined his actions and those of two colleagues.

Prosecutors originally ruled no charges should be brought because the remarks did not cause Mr Demetrio harassment, distress or alarm. But a senior CPS lawyer is now reconsidering the evidence and Mr Demetrio has been told a decision will be made within three weeks.

He declined to comment last night, saying: ‘I’m not interested in taking this any further.’ Mr Demetrio’s lawyer Michael Oswald said: ‘We welcome their agreement to review that decision and we now await the outcome of that review.’

Anti-racism campaigner Estelle du Boulay said: ‘Sadly, the treatment of this young man at the hands of police officers... [is] by no means unusual.’

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘These are serious allegations. Any use of racist language or excessive use of force is not acceptable.’

Labour MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said prosecutors were close to deciding whether to charge PC MacFarlane.

'I have today heard from the Director of Public Prosecutions who has confirmed to me that his investigation into Mauro Demetrio's treatment will be decided shortly and the chairman of the IPCC who has confirmed to me that they are still investigating this matter irrespective of what the Crown Prosecution Service does,' he said.

'This is positive information. All agencies should be involved in rooting out racism wherever it is.'

Original report here




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