“It reveals what many of us know all too well – that there
is widespread failure in the Met to deal with misconduct by officers which
leaves racism, misogyny and homophobia going unpunished.
“These findings may not surprise residents in Lambeth, particularly
women, our LGBTQ+ communities and those from Black and minority ethnic
backgrounds, who directly experience this racism, misogyny and homophobia. But
they continue to cause distress and trauma amongst them, preventing trust in
the police from being built and leaving our communities vulnerable to
mistreatment.
“This report cannot be ignored as many have been before.
This has to be a moment of genuine change, with an end to this cycle of
mistrust and institutional racism, misogyny and homophobia.”
Communities in Lambeth have experienced these shocking
failures in the most profound ways, from the horrifying murder of Sarah Everard
to the shooting of Chris Kaba and death in custody of Ian Taylor. In her report
Baroness Casey lays out how our residents face discriminatory and unfair
treatment in many ways, including that faced by a Lambeth employee in 2019
which is referenced in report.
That man faced an unfair and unnecessary stop and search and
when he complained about it, he was told there was no case to answer. Only
after being challenged by Lambeth Council was the case properly reviewed and
the complaint upheld. But even then, no action was taken against the officers,
leaving an absence of justice which can only exacerbate the lack of trust many
people have in the police.
Cllr Mahamed Hashi, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Safer
Communities said: “The report is a damning indictment of the Metropolitan
Police and the deep-rooted discrimination that exists within the organisation.
The findings are particularly shocking in relation to the safety of women and
girls, who have been placed at greater risk than necessary.
“The report highlights what we know to be true in Lambeth
regarding the impact of policing cuts, and the withdrawal from the frontline
that many of us have experienced in our communities.
“I know that many Lambeth residents will already know the
report’s finding that the Met under-protects and over-polices Black Londoners.
That our daily experience is recognised is important but also deeply frustrating
for so many that too little action has been taken to address this until now.
“We will continue to hold the Met to account and work our
local police services to root out discrimination and keep Lambeth residents
safe.”
posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 9:11 am
