Five UK police face misconduct hearing over treatment of two Black athletes
LONDON (Reuters) – 5 British law enforcement officials will face a gross misconduct listening to after they stopped, searched and handcuffed two Black athletes, in a 2020 incident that raised questions over the usage of drive and racial profiling.
Police stated they’d stopped and searched the car as a result of they believed it was being pushed in a way that raised suspicion.
Inside have been British sprinter Bianca Williams, 28, Portuguese 400m runner Ricardo dos Santos, 27 and the couple’s child son.
Each athletes have been handcuffed whereas they and the automotive have been looked for weapons or medication. Nothing was discovered and no arrests have been made.
Footage of the incident confirmed Williams, a Commonwealth Video games gold medallist, handcuffed and in a distressed state, resulting in accusations of racial profiling after it was broadly shared on social media.
The UK’s Unbiased Workplace for Police Conduct (IOPC) stated it had examined why the car was adopted and stopped, whether or not the drive used was proportionate and whether or not the couple had been handled much less favourably due to their race.
It stated it had decided that the 5 officers ought to reply allegations that they breached skilled requirements regarding their duties and tasks. [https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN26T2YF]
“We have now co-operated absolutely with the IOPC’s investigation and, in accordance with their path, at the moment are arranging for an independently-led misconduct listening to to happen,” Deputy Assistant Commissioner Bas Javid of London’s Metropolitan Police stated.
“I’m sorry for the misery that this incident clearly precipitated Ms Williams and Mr Dos Santos,” he added in a press release.
The pinnacle of London’s Met police stood down this month after she was criticised by the capital’s mayor for failing to root out racism, sexism and different issues within the drive.
(Reporting by Farouq Suleiman; Modifying by Kate Holton and John Stonestreet)
