Lammy hits out at PM plan
‘Unfair’ to say they share US attitudes
A SENIOR police officer has said “things have been unfairly conflated” when people looked at UK and US police forces’ attitudes to race relations.
South Yorkshire Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts, speaking at a South Yorkshire Police & Crime Commissioner Public Accountability Board meeting, said there had been some “casual language” in comparing how police officers respond to incidents in the countries.
The comments come in the wake of the death of black US citizen George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer who knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes.
The death sparked protests across the globe, including peaceful demonstrations in Leeds, Sheffield and Doncaster.
But Det Chief Con Roberts added that the force could not be complacent on issues that arise but admitted that the killing of Mr Floyd in this manner “won’t help” the recruitment of BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) officers into the force.
“At the moment we can all understand the concerns around the events in America,” he said.
“I do think there is some quite casual language where events over there are transposed to events over here.
“That’s not being complacent at all, we’re aware of the issues that police service here have had
BORIS JOHNSON’S pledge to establish a cross-government commission on racial inequality is a “back of a fag packet” plan designed to “assuage the Black Lives Matter protest”, Labour has claimed.
Shadow Justice Secretary David Lammy said there have been several reviews into racism in the UK in recent years – and the announcement of another makes it feel like “we want figures, data – but we don’t want action”.
Mr Johnson, writing in the Daily Telegraph, said the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities would look at “all aspects of inequality
– in employment, in health outcomes, in academic and all other walks of life”.
although on a completely different degree I would stress over those in America over the years.
“But I do think things have been unfairly conflated in terms of the police force in this country which I think has recognised issues
Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts. and has taken great strides to make sure we are viewed fairly and in a positive light by everyone in the country.
“The discourse won’t help but we’ve got to re-emphasise the positive steps that we’ve taken in this country with policing by consent and you don’t get that legitimacy without being fair to all members of the community.”
It came as the organisation that represents rank-and-file police officers in England and Wales has called on the Home Secretary to ban all protests while the threat of Covid-19 remains.
Police Federation chairman John Apter said Priti Patel must be “unequivocal” in stating that large gatherings are not allowed.
It comes after a second weekend of violent clashes in the capital as far-right protesters took over areas near the Houses of Parliament and Trafalgar Square on Saturday in response to antiracism demonstrations sparked by the death of George Floyd.
Meanwhile, a Black Lives Matter protester who rescued an injured white man during a violent far-right rally has spoken of wanting “equality for all”.
Patrick Hutchinson, a personal trainer and grandfather, saved the man from harm during violent protests in London on Saturday.
He formed a group with four friends, who are part of Londonbased close protection group Ark Security, to protect young Black Lives Matter protesters from getting caught up in the violence.
Things have been unfairly conflated in terms of the police force.