CITY COP SORRY OVER ‘BLACK MALES’ ALERT
Clubs were issued with warning after fatal stabbing
A COVENTRY police officer is sorry after an email was sent out to nightclub owners asking them to look out for “young black males” in the wake of the Fidel Glasgow murder.
The email was sent from a Coventry police officer to a number of people, including nightclub and pub owners, as part of the Pubwatch scheme.
However, the phrasing of the email has been criticised by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and a community activist.
The email asked Pubwatch to be aware of the heightened level of surveillance that police require from everyone on the doors, so there was no ‘repeat of the violence.’
However, it particularly asked people to look out for “problems, tensions, gatherings of young black males who may be intent on reprisals”.
It also said: “Any problems or large gatherings of young black males who look as though they are intent on committing disorder should be rung in on either 999s if an incident is occurring or 101.”
Now police say they will be speaking to the officer in question - who is said to be “upset and sorry”.
A community activist has said that the email is a racial stereotype and these crimes aren’t just happening with one group of people. Desmond Jadoo told the Telegraph that it tars all the groups of black people with the same brush. He said: “My view on this is very straight forward.
“The crimes are happening across the region. It shows the communities all need to work together with police and councils. They have readily said this, that nightclubs need to conduct the extra searches.
“The issue with this is them saying it is large groups of black people – there could be anyone causing trouble out there. They have just singled out black males. And, it isn’t just to do with race, it could also be male or females they need to look out for. What needs to be done is to be greater work between police and council and the community. How do they not know that the group of black males aren’t just play fighting, or having a laugh, do we call 999 for that?
“This borders on racial stereotype, and that is the issue. West Midlands Police have gone about this the wrong way. What this police officer has done is they have tarred every black youngster with the same brush.”
The Telegraph also contacted the Equality and Human Rights Commission for comment.
They said the police have a responsibility and they would expect them to carry out a full investigation. A spokesman said: “Police forces must ensure that their officers serve their communities in a non-discriminatory way and act based on reasonable suspicion. They also have a responsibility to comply with the public sector equality duty which includes having due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination and foster good relations.”
The email said: “Obviously with the events that have occurred last weekend we are under a heightened alert for problems, tensions, gatherings of young black males who may be intent on reprisals this weekend... Can you make Pubwatch aware of the heightened level of surveillance we require from everyone on the doors to management as we do not want a repeat of the violence last weekend. Please can you reinforce the use of knife wands, searching and ask door teams to be extra vigilant on what is happening outside of their venues as well as inside.
“Any problems or large gatherings of young black males who look as though they are intent on committing disorder should be rung in on either 999s if an incident is occurring or 101. Many thanks for your support.”
Superintendent Phil Healy from Coventry Police said: “I’ve read the message and spoken to the officer involved; he has worked in Coventry for many years, is well respected and is upset and sorry that his message could have caused offence.
“I agree the wording was unfortunate but I’m utterly confident there was no malicious intent. I will be advising the officer accordingly. This incident underlines the care that’s needed when communicating with our communities, to ensure nothing can be taken out of context or cause offence. We will learn from this and strive to ensure it’s never repeated.”
This borders on racial stereotyping and that is the issue. The police have gone about this the wrong way. Community activist