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Institutional racism in the police?

(569 Posts)
trisher Sat 27-Jun-20 09:31:51

The news about the murdered sisters in London, the police's first lack of action then the photographs taken at the scene must have shocked everyone. The dignified and measured interview their mother has given couldn't fail to impress. So is she right can these photographs be compared with those taken at lynchings in the US? And is this the real proof that there is still racism in the police?

Anniebach Tue 07-Jul-20 14:35:50

trisher you know the police officer had drawn his baton before the car window or car door was open ? You have a link
to the whole happening ?

Could it be they had a reason not an excuse for the handcuff ?

trisher Tue 07-Jul-20 14:45:35

Watch the video Annie- There he stands with baton across his shoulder even before the car door is opened. www.thesun.co.uk/news/12035691/linford-christie-met-police-athletes-stopped/
Remember there was a small child in that car

Anniebach Tue 07-Jul-20 15:05:04

Thank you trisher how many times had they asked for the driver to get out of the car ?

I want to be fair about this, the driver refused to stop, the police didn’t know if he was armed , I would need to see the whole happening before making any judgement.

Two paramedics were stabbed yesterday, they went to a call out, the man refused to open the door, the door was broken, the paramedics walked in and were stabbed.

Can’t you understand how police put their lives at risk when
approaching uncooperative members of the public ?

tickingbird Tue 07-Jul-20 15:13:20

I’m not sure on this as I don’t think I’ve seen the same video. The one I saw was taken from inside the back of the car and the female was getting upset but, in all fairness, the policewoman seemed very keen to reassure her it would only take a few minutes. She wasn’t being at all aggressive.

I can understand the frustration at being stopped but arguing and refusing to do as asked just escalates the situation. The police aren’t going to just go away because someone keeps protesting they haven’t done anything.

trisher Tue 07-Jul-20 17:01:38

No one "refused" he asked why they wanted him out the car-apparently this is assumed by the police now to be a refusal (I've seen other film of a young man being stopped and then handcuffed for asking the same thing) The officers had already drawn a baton. When she is speaking to the woman in the back of the car the woman officer is grasping her arm.. Perhaps the treatment of black people by the Met police has led to a lot of them distrusting the police. The driver is Portugese and said he has been stopped many times.
Bianca Williams the woman said thatthe road was only wide enough for a single car so the "on the wrong side of the road" was difficult to understand.

Anniebach Tue 07-Jul-20 17:53:36

If a one way street how come the police car is parked along
side their car

growstuff Tue 07-Jul-20 18:04:22

The road where I live is, in theory, two way. However, there are always cars parked along it, so in practice is one way and cars have to drive on the wrong side of the road. In the interview I saw with Williams that's how she described that road.

growstuff Tue 07-Jul-20 18:06:56

Apparently, the Met has now requested a meeting with the couple (presumably as a result of the media publicity) so hopefully they can all talk it through and any misunderstandings can be explored.

Anniebach Tue 07-Jul-20 18:23:41

The police have referred themselves to the police watchdog

growstuff Tue 07-Jul-20 18:42:50

Anniebach

The police have referred themselves to the police watchdog

Good! At least they haven't just swept it under the carpet. I agree with those who say we don't know what happened before the video started, but in the face of it, the incident seems quite shocking and mustn't be allowed to breed resentment.

Anniebach Tue 07-Jul-20 18:47:59

It will continue to breed resentment regardless.

Iam64 Tue 07-Jul-20 19:42:30

Good to see the Met referred this incident to the police watchdog.

I've been stopped once for speeding (30 years ago) and once for talking on my mobile (10 years ago). I make no excuses fr being an offender though the mobile phone use was linked to serious worries about a family member, a professional phoned and I answered without pulling over and stopping.

Both times the routine was the same. Madam, do you know why you've been stopped. Step out of the car please madam. I complied immediately. I appreciate I was a white female and that they police would already know my car was insured, taxed, MOTd and that if the owner (driver) had no criminal convictions.

We need black drivers to feel as I did. Ok I committed an offence, I've been caught out, the best I can hope for is points, I hope I don't get prosecuted for driving without due care etc. To feel safe in immediately doing what the officer asks you to do. Both times, once I was out the car, I was asked to sit in the back of the police car. I did so.
Yes I was lucky, I was fined both times and both times, the police officers couldn't have been more polite and pleasant whilst telling me I'd be reported and fined.

Whitewavemark2 Tue 07-Jul-20 19:51:23

I’ve never been stopped, but once driving along the A27 to Southampton (work) a police bike drove up alongside and signalled that I had forgotten to put on my seat belt. Felt quite embarrassed? He was driving alongside for quite a distance and I ignored him not realising he was trying to get my attention.

Anniebach Tue 07-Jul-20 21:51:28

I don’t read twitter, anything there about Linford Christie
being banned for life by British Olympic Association for taking drugs ?

Eloethan Tue 07-Jul-20 23:09:10

What exactly does that mean Anniebach?

suziewoozie Wed 08-Jul-20 07:48:05

Wow annie just Wow. And your point is?

Galaxy Wed 08-Jul-20 08:05:21

Could you clarify what you mean there anniebach.

Loislovesstewie Wed 08-Jul-20 08:15:54

I've been stopped three times by the police, the first and second times were random breath tests near Xmas . I was polite, they were polite both tests negative as I hadn't had a drink in weeks. The third time I had bought a used car from a reputable dealer , the next day the police pulled me over. I had tax, insurance and MOT so wondered what I had done wrong, it seems the car had previously been owned by a local drug dealer! I had children in the car on the last 2 occasions.
We don't know here what happened prior to the recording starting, but the police do mostly have bodycams and record incidents from their patrol cars as well so more may become apparent.

The trouble is that at the moment, they are damned if they do, damned if they don't. The police have to be allowed to do their job or we will have anarchy. There will always be some who overstep the mark , just as some members of the public, of any ethnicity, will be stroppy when challenged.
After nearly 40 years of dealing with members of the public I acknowledge that there can be faults on both sides and situations can quickly deteriorate . I always tried to be polite but often the customer wasn't right and didn't want to listen, but just shout .
I think we need to await developments.

Loislovesstewie Wed 08-Jul-20 08:25:10

Oh, and I have been frisked by the police when attending a football match!

eazybee Wed 08-Jul-20 08:26:04

I was stopped several times in the 1980s when I drove an old but perfectly legal and roadworthy 1300 car inherited from my aunt, and had to show my insurance and MOT certificates to the local police station. The last time was when the rear number plate had dropped off. The police were always perfectly polite, and so was I.
My son was also stopped several times 'for a check' and asked to show his driving licence when he first started driving in his late teens, never speeding or committing an offence, probably because he looked young for his age. He also complied without a fuss, no trouble,' thank you sir' and off he went.

Furret Wed 08-Jul-20 08:27:14

Are you black or white Lois?

Furret Wed 08-Jul-20 08:30:58

It appears that black people are almost 10 times more likely to be stopped by police. The impression I’m getting is that many on here seem to think it’s their own fault if things get out of hand.

I suppose they should just shut up and take it.

lemongrove Wed 08-Jul-20 08:31:12

It doesn’t matter what ethnicity another poster is Furret they are simply giving their views on a situation.

Galaxy Wed 08-Jul-20 08:41:07

But individual experiences dont really prove anything, I havent experienced domestic violence, I still believe it exists.

Furret Wed 08-Jul-20 08:42:17

Actually the question was intended to highlight the difference experienced by a (probably) white elderly woman and young black people.

That is very much a question of ethnicity.