‘Institutionally racist’ police took the side of murder victim’s abusers
POliCe and council officials were accused of ‘institutional racism’ for siding with the abusers of an iranian refugee who was eventually murdered over false claims he was a paedophile.
A damning report published yesterday found there was ‘collective failure’ by Avon and somerset Police and Bristol City Council in the case of Bijan ebrahimi.
Mr ebrahimi, 44, was beaten to death and his body set on fire by neighbour lee James outside his home in Bristol in July 2013 – after the victim made repeatedly made complaints of racist abuse to the authorities.
James, who wrongly believed Mr ebrahimi was a paedophile who had been filming children, stamped on the disabled refugee’s head during the attack, shouting ‘have some of that’.
James, now 28, admitted murder and was jailed for life with a minimum of 18 years in 2013. Another neighbour, stephen Norley, now 29, was jailed for four years for assisting an offender. The inquiry by the safer Bristol Partnership found no evidence of any official being racist towards Mr ebrahimi.
But it added: ‘Nevertheless, there is evidence that Mr ebrahimi was repeatedly targeted for racist abuse and victimisation by some members of the public, that this was repeatedly reported to the police and council and that representatives of both organisations repeatedly sided with his abusers.’ its authors accused authorities of accepting allegations against Mr ebrahimi ‘without objective investigation’.
The report concluded: ‘There is evidence of both discriminatory behaviour and institutional racism on the part of Bristol City Council and Avon and somerset Constabulary.’ since 2007, Mr ebrahimi made dozens of claims he was being attacked, including threats against his life, being struck by a car, racial abuse from neighbours and stones being thrown at his door.
But no action was taken. instead, one police record wrongly stated: ‘informant is a serial complainer about his neighbours and investigations always reveal informant to be the aggressor.’
such treatment served as ‘official confirmation’ of his status as a perpetrator, rather than a victim, the report said. An antisocial behaviour order was made against Mr ebrahimi in 2010. He overturned it on appeal.
A previous report by the independent Police Complaints Commission found that officers showed ‘ hallmarks’ of racial bias against Mr ebrahimi.
PC Kevin Duffy was jailed for ten months and PCsO Andrew Passmore for four months at Bristol Crown Court last year for misconduct in a public office in connection with Mr ebrahimi’s death. They were sacked, as were PCs Helen Harris and leanne Winter.
Yesterday the force’s Chief Constable Andy Marsh apologised ‘unreservedly’. On behalf of the council, Bristol mayor Marvin Rees added: ‘We apologise for failing to adequately support Bijan as a victim. We accept all of the findings of the review.’
‘Collective failure’