Man ‘targeted by police for wearing tracksuit’
A MAN who was bundled into a police car after refusing to give his name to an officer claimed he was “targeted for wearing a tracksuit and coat”.
Nino Romano was threatened with being locked up after being quizzed about who he was, where he lived and what he was doing outside Dorridge railway station, near Solihull, on January 27.
The 21-year-old told a male officer from West Midlands Police that he was heading to work and provided his address – but was held in the back of a police car after refusing to give his name.
Footage of the incident, which later went viral, showed the officer tell him “coronavirus legislation” meant he needed to know who he was.
In the video, Mr Romano was warned about being locked up if he failed to provide his name to the officers.
He responded: “I’m going to get locked up for what? You’ve just pulled up on me, asked me for my
name, I live around here.”
The officer said the fact he was arguing gave him “reasonable suspicion” he was “telling lies”.
Mr Romano, who said he was a “normal citizen”, could be heard accusing the officer of “harassing” him.
He added: “Why would I allow someone to just pull me over?”
The officer then interrupted him, saying: “We’re the police, not just someone – you idiot.”
The man responded: “Just ’cos you’re the police gives you the right to stop anyone you like and get their details? You need to be re-informed about the law.”
At that point he was held and bundled into the back of a police car, with the officer telling him they would “sort this out at the station”.
But the force later apologised and said the officer’s conduct “fell below” what it would expect. It also confirmed there was no suspicion any offences had been committed.
Mr Romano, who was due to catch a train to work in Birmingham, believed he was “targeted” due to the clothes he was wearing and accused the officer of being “power hungry.”
“I’ve just got used to it, that’s how the police act to the younger generation,” he said.
“I think they targeted me because of the clothes I was wearing – a tracksuit and a coat.
“I’m going to carry on going to work, but the fact they feel entitled to stop people is a bit degrading. It’s not nice at all.
“There were so many around, why pick me?”
Mr Romano said he later gave officers his name and was released without being formally arrested.
people
West Midlands Police said the officer’s actions were “not acceptable.”
A spokesman apologised and said: “We’ve reviewed video footage of one of our officers challenging a man. It’s clear that the officer’s conduct fell far below what we would expect.
“His manner was not acceptable, not the face of West Midlands Police, and we will deal with the situation. The officer has accepted his behaviour was not up to our high standards and we will address this as part of an action plan for his learning and development.
“The officer was with a colleague on patrol and part of their duties was ensuring people are adhering to Covid restrictions.
“The man explained he was heading to work – that’s clearly a justifiable reason to be out and about and there was no suspicion he had committed any offences. As such, he should not have been challenged in the way he was.”
A complaint was made about the incident, which was being investigated by the force’s Professional Standards Department.