Met s Grenfell racism’ storm
FURY AT MEMO ABOUT MUSLIMS
THE Met Police face a new race storm after it emerged officers warned of potential “crime and disorder” from Muslims in the aftermath of the Grenfell disaster.
Campaigners claim a memo by the force produced at the inquiry into the fire – which killed 72 people in June 2017 – is Islamophobic.
Written by Kensington and Chelsea Police four days after the horror, the risk assessment predicted trouble as the death toll rose.
The note said: “With the cause unknown, any subsequent disclosure would have an impact on community tensions, especially when the majority of those affected are believed to be from a Muslim cultural background – combined with the incident occurring during the holy month of Ramadan.”
Campaign group Grenfell United said: “When we should have been protected and supported, we were treated as suspects, not victims. Kensington and Chelsea officials referred to us as ‘muzzies’ and refused to go down to Grenfell because ‘it’s like little Africa there’.
“And now we’ve heard the police targeted us because of our faith. Working within a system riddled with racism and Islamophobia will never bring true justice.”
Delia Mattis, of Black Lives Matter, said she was “not in the least bit surprised” by the memo, adding: “This is the daily reality of ethnic groups when dealing with the police and it’s tragic.”
Alison Munroe QC, for the Grenfell families, told the ongoing inquiry: “Racism and discrimination played a very real part in the response to this tragedy.” She said of the note: “This is Islamophobia. It’s racism. It is the elephant staring back at us in the room.”
Andrew Warnock QC, for the Met, said the force “would strongly refute any suggestion Islamophobia affected its response”. He said the memo also explained how officers were working with community leaders from mosques and other faith groups to support victims.
The row comes after a series of scandals rocked the Met – whose culture has been branded “toxic” – and culminated in the force being put under special measures.
Inspectors this week told of “systemic concerns” over shoddy responses to 999 calls and “barely adequate” crime recording. Also this week, two officers were sacked for posting offensive and racist messages in a group chat in 2018.
And a probe is under way after a 15-year-old black girl was stripsearched at her London school.
Just months ago, Cressida Dick stood down as Met Commissioner after London Mayor Sadiq Khan lost faith in her leadership.