Racial profiling is a known practice associated with stop and search,
that is the targeting of black men, because police stereotype us as more likely
to commit criminal activities.In the past Deputy Commissioner Ian Blair made
a statement categorising black people to blame for muggings in the capital,
statements like that doesn't help community relations. Yet there is a far
more sinister crime, which has been evident for many years and they chose
to ignore it. Now it has got out of hand they still do not classify the crime
by race: paedophilia. It is a known fact that it is a crime mainly associated
with well to do white males. Why has that crime not been classified by race?
Or bank robberies or business fraud and deception?Little progress has been
made in relation to stop and search as recent figures show black people are
8 times more likely to be stopped than whites.
There is also overt racism within the criminal justice system as
black people are 6 times more likely to be jailed than whites: a huge disparity.
The police have science and technology available to them to detect and solve
crime but yet they choose to fabricate and use tactics of inducing witnesses,
often drug addicts, alcoholics, and registered informants to secure convictions.For
many years police have got away with perverting the course of justice, the
magistrates now it, the judges now it, but still allow cases to proceed and
convict. The police are a law unto themselves.Where are the lessons learnt
after the miscarriages of justice since the, Guildford 4, Birmingham 6, Winston
Silcott, Judy Ward and M25-3. When you hear someone say they are innocent
take time and at least listen.Police systematically abuse black people in
a form of mental and physical terrorism, as they carry out police brutality
and harassment.
Practised institutional racism is the reminiscence of colonial slavery lingering
on in modern society, as police petty minded, bully tactics and canteen culture
try to eliminate our rightful competitive status within society, by tarnishing
us with a background of criminal convictions, quite often assault on an officer
and obstruction during stop and searches.The recent shootings and gun culture
has nothing to do with music and artist, I remember distinctly growing up
and forced fed cowboys and Indians, a racist story line to believe it was
okay to shoot and kill Indians. My generation and my parents didn't become
gun wielding addicts over rice and peas and cowboy and Indians. Blame the
source where the guns come from, blame social exclusion, blame the police
harassment, blame the government for the social poverty line and inequality
that has pushed the youths into a corner of crime and guns. Crime comes first,
as it needs money to buy a gun. They put much effort into the resources to
tackle black on black crimes but when it comes to blue on black crimes its
side lined.The police have exposed the black youths to high levels of stress
and paranoia, in relation to the disproportionate stop and searches carried
out on the young black male, hence a contributing factor to depression and
other social problems.Black youths are often stereotyped as hard to reach,
but this is not true they crying out for help and are, hard to hear when they
need to be heard.. They need to be actively encouraged and involved by ensuring
their representation is equally catered for and their participation is equally
wanted and value.
It wasn't too long ago the Brixton riot and Broadwater Farm Riot through the
same conditions, then it was bricks and petrol bombs, now guns are plentiful
like bags of sweets. The government should engage the youth in communication
to enhance confidence. More employment, more community centres, more links
with training with industry. Sport facilities are too costly for the unemployed.2
weeks ago there was a shooting in Tottenham which resulted in the death of
a young black man. The victim was assassinated by hooded gunmen, in front
of his friend, as the victim was still conscious he could see and hear his
best friend pleading with the police to let him travel in the ambulance.
The police said no and arrested the best friend him as he protested. The victim
died whilst travelling to the hospital in the ambulance with police. The friend
was released from the police station the following day without charge. The
police was unprofessional, abusive and swearing to people beyond the cordon
line as the community asked questions, additionally threatening to arrest
a community spokesperson beyond the cordon line who was asking questions on
behalf of the residents.One week later the police deployed a road block with
4 - 6 police with sub machine guns for 3 hours to give out leaflets about
the dead man. I did ask if it made any sense. I was told the gun men might
come back and fall into their trap and it was to protect their officers giving
out leaflets. There was no searching of vehicles and it was for 3 hours. Funny
enough the Lindo Report recommended the formation of a community reference
group, to manage critical incidents. One was set up without our knowledge
or inclusion. The members only turn up to the shooting incident one week later
when the police with guns, flood lit road and official from the Metropolitan
Police Authority turn up. (What are the motives for people taking up these
positions?)A witness who wanted to remain anonymous, gave me information about
the gunmen to pass on to the police. I spoke to an inspector who tried to
interrogate me like I was on trial, then tried to force out of me, the name
of the anonymous person. When I refused to tell him, he then took the line
that there was nothing he could do about the information unless the person
came forward.This all brings to mind Dwayne Brooks, the friend of Stephen
Lawrence. He was also a victim and still suffering as he watched his friend
stabbed to death. The police ignored his evidence and didn't treat him like
a victim.He has written a book called "Steve and me" which talks
about his friendship with Stephen and the events on the night Stephen died,
and for many years afterwards. The book will be published by Little Brown
for 10th anniversary of Stephen Lawrence.Those families who have been victims
and stand up and challenge the police and judicial system are alienated, smear
campaigned and become the hunted as they watch their lives and families destroyed
around them for the sake of truth and justice.My wife and I will not compromise,
they will not take away our dignity, although we have been through the mill.
When I reflect on the hardships, it has enabled us to turn the negative into
the positive by developing ourselves and maximising our true potentials.I
am under no illusion that I am hated by the system and its collaborators,
but I take humble refuge from my supporters who can distinguish between -right
from wrong, truth from untruth, justice from injustice.The Lindo Report was
the most controversial report into the Metropolitan Police. The Metropolitan
Police Authority Lord Toby Harris said it was a groundbreaking report. The
Inquiry team was set up by the MPA and MPS with an operation Name: Fission.
You will never hear the Black Police Association backing the Lindo report.
Detective Leroy Logan was on the inquiry team, the reference team also engaged
another BPA member and my liaison officer was a BPA representative George
Rhoden. When the Police Federation was fighting against the Lindo Report no
one stood up from the BPA to defend the report which they had participated
in the findings. This is the report that the BPA did not stand up to defend
although they say they want to change things from inside the force. This is
the report that the MPS and MPA locked in their vaults.We have asked for the
report to be made public and the public apology which the report recommended
to be given by Deputy Commissioner Ian Blair.
Lindo Report Action Plan
· Evidence gathering
· Police officer power of arrest and search
· Develop officer complaints intervention programme
· Community race relations training
· Custody officer training to ensure high standards of decision making
in respect of arrested suspects
· Piloted schemes from report set up in south-east London them implemented
throughout MPS
· Changes in the PCA
· Restructure senior management structure of Directorate of Professional
Standards as part of Best Value Review
· Improve overall system for investigation of complaints through greater
co-ordination and joint working with PCA & CPS through 'Learning Lab'
sponsored by the Cabinet Office.