More Met officers suspended over racism claims
Scotland Yard confirms 10 cases are being referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) after fresh allegations of racist comments.
Deputy Commissioner Craig Mackey told reporters following a review of complaints relating to alleged racism a further seven cases have been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, bringing to 10 the number of cases forwarded to the IPCC.
In an earlier statement, the force had confirmed three officers based in Newham have been placed on restricted duties and a voluntary referral made to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) following allegations of racist comments being made within a group of officers.
The statement continued: “The incidents are alleged to have occurred between 6 January and 15 March and were brought to the attention of the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) on 19 March.
“Following careful consideration of the allegations, the Metropolitan Police Service made the decision to voluntarily refer the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission on 4 April.”
Two of the officers are PCs and one an acting police sergeant.
‘Very damaging’
The allegations emerge only a few days after the Met’s Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe vowed to get to the bottom of “very damaging” recordings of one officer apparently racially abusing a man and another allegedly assaulting a teenage boy last summer.
Mr Hogan-Howe said: “I will not stand for any racism or racists” as he described his “shock” over those allegations.
Commander Peter Spindler, MPS Directorate of Professional Standards, said of the latest revelations: “These are serious allegations that are being thoroughly investigated so that robust action can be taken if proven.
“The commissioner has already stated there is no place for racist behaviour in the MPS and we will work with the IPCC to identify any wrongdoing.”
In March, a policeman was suspended after allegedly calling a man a “n*****” during the London riots. The officer, who sources named as Pc Alex MacFarlane of the Metropolitan Police, was apparently recorded by the suspect on his mobile phone as he was taken into custody.
The Guardian reported the officer told the 21-year-old black man: “The problem with you is you will always be a n*****, yeah? That’s your problem, yeah.”
