Some senior elements of the Met police have worked hard in recent years to portray their organisation as free of institutionalised racism. But there are hundreds of beat officers and desk sergeants able to destroy this façade at a stroke by their crass and negligent behaviour.
Cynthia Boakye, 43, shared a house in South London with a man who had failed to appear in court on immigration charges. Although unconnected with the case, Cynthia herself was arrested last Thursday morning. Police officers chose not to question Mrs Boakye under caution at her home address. Despite being sole carer for her 18-month old daughter, Audrey (pictured), she was dragged off to Walworth Road nick.
Once at the cop shop, Sergeant Thick realised the questioning could hardly continue while the little one was crying. So cursory efforts were made to locate a relative to take care of the infant. A little while later, a woman also from West African descent, arrived and the child was handed over. No ID check was requested and no officer thought fit to check with Mrs Boakye.
It turned out this woman had no connection to the family and must have overheard an officer loudly arranging the child’s welfare. Three days later Audrey was found in Harlesden, north London.
Cynthia Boakye, 43, shared a house in South London with a man who had failed to appear in court on immigration charges. Although unconnected with the case, Cynthia herself was arrested last Thursday morning. Police officers chose not to question Mrs Boakye under caution at her home address. Despite being sole carer for her 18-month old daughter, Audrey (pictured), she was dragged off to Walworth Road nick.
Once at the cop shop, Sergeant Thick realised the questioning could hardly continue while the little one was crying. So cursory efforts were made to locate a relative to take care of the infant. A little while later, a woman also from West African descent, arrived and the child was handed over. No ID check was requested and no officer thought fit to check with Mrs Boakye.
It turned out this woman had no connection to the family and must have overheard an officer loudly arranging the child’s welfare. Three days later Audrey was found in Harlesden, north London.
The child’s grandmother Agatha Owsuah’s angry response was omitted from most press reports. She only spoke the obvious when she said, "All the time in this country they check your identity. They ask for my ID when I take money from the bank, they ask for ID before you can get a job. They should have asked for ID before handing over a human being to someone."
But the police’s statement offered no hint of regret let alone apology to this disgraceful dereliction of the basic duties of safeguarding. One of their spokespeople said there would be a review and only offered this lethargic assurance, "to ensure that any lessons are learned". Yes, certainly one lesson would be to treat people whatever their background with some respect.
In an attempt to successfully sour community relations further, at least five members of Mrs Boakye’s family were arrested on suspicion of involvement. All were bailed, unsurprisingly. Similar high-handed, prejudicial treatment of the black community led to riots in London, Bristol and Liverpool in the 1980s. Don’t be surprised to these battle lines drawn again some time soon.
But the police’s statement offered no hint of regret let alone apology to this disgraceful dereliction of the basic duties of safeguarding. One of their spokespeople said there would be a review and only offered this lethargic assurance, "to ensure that any lessons are learned". Yes, certainly one lesson would be to treat people whatever their background with some respect.
In an attempt to successfully sour community relations further, at least five members of Mrs Boakye’s family were arrested on suspicion of involvement. All were bailed, unsurprisingly. Similar high-handed, prejudicial treatment of the black community led to riots in London, Bristol and Liverpool in the 1980s. Don’t be surprised to these battle lines drawn again some time soon.
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