Institutional racism in the police?

I blame the media. Whenever a crime is committed it's either described as being a" white man in his 20's or the man was black ".
Why give out the colour of their skin ? A criminal is a criminal regardless of colour.

I object to continually being made aware of the colour of anyone's skin, I can see and don't need being made to feel as though it matters either way.People should get on with life and mind their own damn business.

paddyanne

Lemongrove the sixties was over half a century ago...not a great deal of progress in that time as far as I can see

I think there has been progress, paddyanne but either not enough or we were going backwards now not forwards.

The Race Relations Acts, the first of which was passed in 1965, was just the beginning of making discrimination unlawful.

However, the fact that we have to pass laws against discrimination on grounds of race is in itself shocking and some people's perceptions and prejudices have to change too before more progress can be made.

The death of George Floyd and the focus on the BLM campaign means we are all being forced to re-evaluate our assumptions. That includes the black community and also those of us who are white, we have to accept once and for all, that white privilege exists.

The fact the BLM protests involve white as well as black people and that so many prominent sports people are supporting the BLM movement is positive. The attempts to dismiss the movement on the basis its Marxist etc seems to me to be another attempt to silence the cries for equality.
I have no reason to believe Cressida Dick is anything other than determined the Met treats the community it serves professionally and without prejudice or favour.

Galaxy however it was noticeable that the protests weren’t only from the black community by any means. So many young white protesters out there too.

It’s very reassuring that our young folks seem so supportive and this brings hope that at last things will change. I listened to Cressida Dick on the news last night and that also was suggestive that the message is getting through.

In my workplace yesterday I heard I am so sick of seeing people taking the knee. I am white I imagine if I was black that wouldn't feel like something I wanted to give credit for.

Protests and marches are part of our rights here, and they were still allowed to go ahead even during this pandemic.
Whether it was a good idea, given that the ethnicity of people seems to have a real effect on how ill they can become, is another matter.
Change takes time, we are on the way, but won’t see complete change in our lifetimes.Give credit to what has been achieved here over the years though.

Very true Galaxy. Change is often presented as a gift granted by the powerful, but it has much to do with the struggle and sacrifice of those from below.

And there will continue to be no magic wand if every time we talk about racism people say to the black community but you cant protest like that or at this time or in that way.

Yes Paddy it was, but 50 years isn’t all that long in terms of
People re-thinking how to look at colour, fairness and equality.It’s changing minds that takes time, not just passing laws, although that’s important too.
So much has changed since those days but it will take another
30 plus years in my view but slowly....things will continue to improve.
I do think the UK is so much better than many countries in Europe and the US on attitudes to race.To those who say
that’s not the point, we must do better ourselves right now, I would say how? There is no magic wand sadly.

Lemongrove the sixties was over half a century ago...not a great deal of progress in that time as far as I can see

I think what some posters are missing is the fact that the Black community doesn't want special treatment or to be treated better than the white community ..they just want to be treated the same .Respect is a two way thing,so if the police and the wider community wants respect FROM the black and minority communities then they have to give respect to those people.That in my opinion is a good starting point .
I know,because I see them ,that the intake of new police personnel covers all communities but not equally,maybe that needs to be rectified so that when people see someone who looks like them in a police uniform they dont feel fear or hatred and can expect fair treatment ...and if it starts with that then its a logical thing for it to then extend to all policemen/women.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000kgtl

Here it is - it’s quite chilling and depressing and shouldn’t be dismissed. As a pp said ( sorry trisher was it you?) having a more representative police service could only help surely?

Iam who is demonising the police force? That’s not a general position at all either from posters here or in the wider society. And I said there were issues - not that the police( or others) were institutionally racist. That’s a big difference. There was a recent R4 programme about the racism that serving black officers have experienced from within. I doubt it’s all made up - one officer was awarded half a million compensation. I’ll try and find the link. I just think so many contributions on this have leaped to the defence of the police as though no police officer could never be racist and that’s a logical impossibility. I have only been stopped once by the police ( 40 years ago) but I honestly don’t know how I might react if I was regularly stopped and I was black and always innocent. Some young black men do have this experience and I can imagine that it must get very wearing. .

Iam
Very good points, thank you.

Washerwoman no one is denying the great job individual police officers do. However if there is institutional racism as many black people complain it makes their job more difficult they need the support of communities. It also means they may be drawn into behaviour they know is wrong but which they feel they have to fall in with.

By the same logic if a small minority of the Police fall short of expected standards. That doesn't negate the good work ,or bravery ,of the others.
Thinking of one officer tonight and hoping they stay safe.

Where has anyone said that. When women describe their experience of sexual harassment or when disabled people describe being discriminated against are they not telling the truth. There will be a very small few who arent but that doesnt negate the experience of the rest of them.

All black people tell the truth ?

I think that's a valid point to be honest. I dont know any woman who has experienced domestic violence, it has also never happened to me. I still believe that domestic violence occurs at a high rate in this country. My direct experience isn't really relevant.

We have made progress....a lot of progress.Just think back to the sixties and seventies.
Through education and race and equality laws, its nothing like how it used to be.It’s an ongoing issue though and will take time.

Perhaps if people stopped relying on their direct experiences and listened to black people we might make some progress.

trisher - I don't dispute any of this. My question is what do you suggest is done to support the good police officers, to prevent the whole force being dismissed. I don't know much about the Met, other than what we all see on tv. I know a fair bit about our force area and it doesn't feel institutionally racist. Yes I'm a white woman but the nature of my work meant I was exposed to the police too regularly not to develop an understanding of it warts and all.
I recognise your desire to educate everyone on the racism you believe to be institutional in the police. I struggle to fit that with my direct experience.

Iam64 there are quite a few black ex police officers who have made complaints about the racist treatment they received in the Met. That will stop more black people applying. So will the concept that black people are targeted by the police. Which if you look at the Stop and Search figures is true. The other thing is if officers suffer racism within the force how much more will be directed at the general public?

suzie, I don't dispute there isn't an issue in the police service, or in other institutions/organisations of racism amongst a small number of people. Our public services are drawn from our general public and will reflect that. If we demonise the police force as institutionally racist because of the actions of some officers, the result may be a lack of BAME applicants. Decent young white candidates may fear applying because they may be seen by friends as possible racists. We need the police to reflect the society it serves.

Iam who would defend such attacks on the police? But none of that means there isn’t an issue in the police service ( as in other institutions/organisations) of unacceptable racist attitudes amongst a small number of officers. I absolutely take your point on general attitudes in terms of our responsibilities towards each other. Whilst the raves/parties are primarily young people ( and in my area very white) there are plenty of people of all ages being irresponsible - look at attitudes towards mask wearing for example.