Officer ‘ignored stab threats’ in wake of BLM

POLICE have been accused of using sensitivities about the Black Lives Matter movement to dismiss a case in which a man threatened to stab a couple in central London.

The incident occurred on Wednesday evening as web designer Owen Ward, 22, and his actress girlfriend Hannah Khalique-brown, 23, were returning to their flat in Hastings Street.

As the couple were about to enter the communal door to their block a hooded man, who had been loitering, approached them and asked them for directions to a street that does not exist.

When Miss Khaliquebrown explained there was no such place, the man swore at her and threatened to stab her in the head. He made a similar threat to Mr Ward, who said they were genuinely in fear for their lives.

After making several threats of violence the man moved away and the couple watched where he went and dialled 999.

Officers arrived a short time later but after speaking to the alleged attacker informed the couple they would not be taking the matter any further because the man was not armed.

The officer told the couple the man had complained about them being “dismissive” towards him. He added that things were sensitive in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement. The incident was not recorded as a crime by the officers.

Mr Ward said he and his girlfriend had been left shaken by the incident but were also very shocked by the attitude of the police.

He said of the man: “When my partner spoke, he swore at her and said he would stab her in the head. He then kept repeating that he would stab us saying, ‘I will stick something in you, that is what I do to people’.

“It’s an outrage that BLM is being used to justify black people threatening to stab people. Knife crime is a huge problem where we live. My partner is still shaken from this and no longer feels she can go outside at night.”

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said the incident had arisen following a misunderstanding or dispute over directions. They added: “The male was detained by officers at the scene but was not found to be in possession of any weapon and no further action was taken.”