In recent years, the police have not gotten very good press. In London, a ‘litany of terrible scandal’ led to the early retirement of Met Police Commissioner, Cressida Dick, last April after the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said he had lost confidence in her ability to make changes. Much criticism has been levelled at the vetting failure, which has resulted in a prevalent culture of ‘predatory’ officers.
Outside the capital, concerns were raised about the Greater Manchester Police’s unethical use of undercover officers to deter anti-social behaviour and crime.
The Muslim News was alerted to the case (p11) of two minors who were allegedly attacked before officers identified themselves, resulting in the questionable arrest of the teens. Ryme Noha Khan’s ordeal lasted five hours before he was released without charge, but that did not stop the incident from being publicized in the local media without any update.
The Muslim community has long been disproportionately targeted through the lens of terrorism, which the latest review of the contentious Prevent strategy can only exacerbate.
Their plight is aggravated by the victimisation of ethnic minorities by police stop-and-search fishing expeditions. Searching questions about the case in point cannot be swept under the rug.
In light of the news that both of the minors’ parents are contemplating taking legal action, it alarmingly seems that litigation (or threats thereof) is now the only means of securing police accountability.
A review panel is said to have given the episode a clean bill of health, describing it as “lawful, proportionate, and necessary.” But who are its members, and how are they chosen to be independent? Where is its report? Were all sides heard in what amounted to a wrongful and heavy-handed arrest for wearing a religious pendant?
Covert tactics bordering on harassment cannot undermine the fine principles of consent and community support underpinning UK policing.
Khan’s mistreatment needs to be investigated and the officers brought to justice. This was pure harassment. Khan told The Muslim News that he and his colleague were stopped and searched because of their colour, white teenagers present were not.
(Photo credit: Joshua Hayes)
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