Campaigner claims West Midlands force has ‘rogue elements’
A COMMUNITY leader has claimed there are rogue elements within West Midlands Police who believe it is acceptable to beat black people. Desmond Jaddoo says that mindset has gained a foothold in the force thanks to a wall of silence from colleagues.
The Birmingham activist and bishop spoke after the revelation that the independent police watchdog had launched nine investigations “connected to alleged excessive force” on black men.
They arise from six incidents, all but one of which have taken place during the coronavirus lockdown.
Four involve the same officer, who has now been suspended.
The investigations arise from:
The use of a Taser on a man at Handsworth on February 27;
The arrest of a man riding a bicycle in Frederick Road, Aston, on April 20;
Detention of a man stopped in the street at Handsworth on April 23;
The stop and search of a 15-yearold boy in Newtown on April 21;
The use of force on a man, including deployment of Taser, following a foot chase at Winson Green on May 4;
A fractured ankle sustained by a man arrested at Digbeth on May 14.
“It appears there are rogue elements in West Midlands Police who harbour the arrogant belief they can beat black people and get away with it,” said Mr Jaddoo.
“They feel empowered by a belief that no one will break ranks and report them. There is also a wall of silence within the black community from members of the public who are fearful of reporting the treatment they have received.
“They must speak out because their silence only empowers the action of rogue officers.
“There is a perverse irony in the fact that an authority tasked with maintaining public order appears to contain elements within its ranks who tread a path that could fan the flames of public disorder.
“Let us be honest, the relationship between the African Caribbean community in Birmingham and police has never been good. There has always been a disproportionate number of black people in the West Midlands Police Force and the reason is simple. Why would the oppressed want to join their oppressor?”
Derrick Campbell, West Midlands regional director for the Independent Office for Police Conduct, said: “I would like to reassure communities in the West Midlands that full, fair and thorough independent investigations are under way into all of these incidents and the conduct matters brought to our attention by the force. “I am also conscious that we do not pre-empt the outcome of these investigations. Our inquiries are looking at and whether the use of force by officers was justified and proportionate in each of these instances.”