Racism is a cancer in police that needs cut out, says MP after being pulled over

LABOUR MP Dawn Butler has accused police of racially profiling her after she was stopped by officers while in a car.

The former shadow equalities secretary (right) said she was pulled over by Metropolitan Police officers in Hackney, east London, yesterday and had recorded a video of the incident.

It comes as police are under heightened scrutiny for the alleged racial profiling of black people.

The MP for Brent Central, in north-west London, told Sky News: “There is an institutional racism in the police, we know that, and it needs to be taken out. It is cancerous and it needs to be cut out of the police force and it’s urgent. It is just tiring and exhausting and mentally draining.”

The broadcaster reported that Ms Butler and her “black male friend” were pulled over while travelling in a “nice car” and that footage showed officers say they were searching the area because of “gang and knife crime”.

During the video of the stop Ms Butler tells the officers: “It is really quite irritating. It’s like you cannot drive around and enjoy a Sunday afternoon whilst black because you’re going to be stopped by police.”

One of the officers tells her: “I appreciate everything you say and I do apologise for wasting your time.”

Scotland Yard later said the car was stopped because an officer “incorrectly entered” its registration and identified it as a vehicle registered to an address in Yorkshire.

“Once the mistake was realised the officer sought to explain this to the occupants; they were then allowed on their way,” a statement said.