HUMBERSIDE POLICE CHIEF ACCUSED OF RACISM
A SENIOR inspector at Humberside Police is facing a misconduct hearing after allegedly calling one of his colleagues a “choc ice”.
According to the allegations, the officer, a person of colour, had been raising concerns about his safety while working during the Covid-19 pandemic due to the disproportionate health implications for black and minority ethnic (BAME) people.
Chief Inspector Stewart Miller, who has led investigations into the notorious murder of Shaun Lyall and a rape under Railway Street bridge in Grimsby, is accused of playing down those concerns by saying: “[He] is probably more white and middle class than I am.”
A hearing is due to take place between
Thursday, December 10 and Friday, December 11.
The comments were allegedly made on June 8 this year at Birchin Way Police Station in Grimsby.
The allegations state that the officer, a detective inspector, had been enquiring about the force’s guidelines in relation to working from home due to the heightened risk to BAME officers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The door to Chf Insp Miller’s office was open and staff were working in the Major Incident Room at the time, the allegations state. According to the hearing listing, he then said: “[He] isn’t fat or diabetic and has a good job so doesn’t fit in to the category, in fact he is as close to white as he can be, in fact he’s a choc ice” and/or “[he] is probably more white and middle class than I am”.
The allegations state the alleged comments were racist, offensive, inappropriate and/or discriminatory in nature. A spokeswoman for Humberside Police said it would be inappropriate for the force to comment on the allegations ahead of the hearing taking place.
Ch Insp Miller has led high-profile police investigations in the past, including the case of a fairground worker who raped a 20-year-old woman in Grimsby as she walked home from work. After a large-scale manhunt, Henry Froggatt was eventually jailed for 10 years and 10 months for his crimes.
He also led the appeals to try to find the killer of Shaun Lyall, who was found dead at his home in July 2018.
Craig Whittle was jailed for life after the horrific murder, with a judge condemning the “extreme violence” used after a court heard Mr Lyall suffered 170 separate injuries during the fatal attack.