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London police force faces fresh racism charges
A new report alleges Asian and black cops face intimidation and discrimation from white colleagues, writes Vijay Dutt.
The Metropolitan Police, Britain's largest police force, has been caught up in a new row following allegations that it allowed a racist culture to develop unchecked, with Asian and Black officers facing insults, discrimination and intimidation by their white colleagues.
The report details almost 20 cases of Asian and Black officers and civilians across the Force who have felt that hey have been discriminate against. In one case an Asian officer was called Paki and in another a Black receptionist was arrested on suspicion of stealing a purse.
But charges were later dropped.
The Observer has claimed that it got an internal report, What is Happening to Our Ethnic Minorities?, according to which the Met has not done enough to eradicate racism and often approaches grievances from ethnic minority staff with apathy and misdirection.
Worse, the report reveals that a greater proportion of Black and Asian officers leave the force during training or probationary period than equivalent to white officers. It says the number is actually double.
Between September 2002 and August this year, there were 3222 new recruits at Hendon. More than 13 per cent of ethnic minority trainees left compared with six per cent of white trainess.
This report coming on top of the BBC telecast of The Secret Policeman, that led to three trainees getting suspended and five of them resigning from the Greater Manchester police, will re-ignite the debate about racism in the police.
The Training Centre in Hendon in north London has been identified as a problem area. This is serious. The Centre trains practically all police officers in London.
The Met has now launched an inquiry into the report, that has also been passed on to the Home Office. The inquiry is to be headed by Tarique Ghaffur, who as Assistant Commissioner, is the highest ranking Asian in the Met.
