By Gabriel Princewill-
The Independent Office For Police Conduct has the unenviable task of rooting out racism and homophobia in the police force after years of persistent unaddressed racism uncovered in the force.
The Independent watchdog has been instrumental in bringing a number of serious cases before the courts, uncovering a litany of concealed misconducts, but has been silent when it comes to racism and homophobia which has for decades been endemic in the police force and treated with kids gloves.
The regulatory body which generally investigates complaints against the police when brought to their attention will be put on the spotlight to take their job more seriously this year, and stamp racism out of the force at every opportunity that incontrovertible evidence of racism or homophobia is evidenced and brought before them.
Racist officers who join the force over the years are numerous, and there are no signs they are abating in numbers or intensity. They unwittingly ruin the good work of those honest and hardworking police officers in the force to help society eradicate unsavory and criminal individuals who heartlessly act to the detriment of others.
Tasteless prejudicial and racist members of society are known to find a safe haven in the British police force due to the very soft stance on racism in that field altogether, and in the regulatory body too.
Last month it was revealed that a police culture of impunity helped an officer who took selfies while on duty at a murder scene commit a litany of disciplinary offences on an “industrial scale” for six years. That revelation was a huge embarrassment and wake up call for the police force, exposing the toxic level of inhumane tendencies in a force instituted to safeguard the interest of the law abiding citizen.
Much to the horror of most decent members of society, some of those professionals we trust to have our best interest at heart hold some people in contempt on the basis of colour, sexual orientation or gender.
When Wayne Couzens murdered Sarah Everard by disguising himself as a working officer to exploit his deviant sexual gratifications and salacious inclinations, he betrayed the trust not just women put in the police force, but all citizens of the Uk. Demented conduct by law enforcement agents is a serious concern not to be taken lightly.
Recently, a number of police officers were found with serious pornographic material, and caught being explicitly racist and homophobic, but not all were punished. Concern has long been growing about an unequal application of the law that favours some indefensibly against others. The detestable trend calls for urgent redressal.
PC Ryan Connolly, 37, from the Merseyside force, resigned after his taking and sharing of photos of the vulnerable and racist and offensive images. Merseyside police and court officials confirmed that Connolly was also convicted in November of three counts of possessing extreme pornography., but escaped charges of racism, despite racism being a criminal offence.
In January 2021, five officers in an elite unit caught making racist, sexist and homophobic remarks were sacked for their “shameful” conduct, but escaped prosecution, despite racism and homophobia being criminal offences- revealing the very weak and one existent stance against racist police officers in the force.
A covert bug recorded members of Hampshire police’s serious organized crime unit wishing death on foreigners, and an investigation found that part of the office where a black officer worked was called “Africa corner”.
Six officers were last month found guilty of gross misconduct. A discipline tribunal at the time ruled that three officers who were still serving at the time face the axe without notice, but those who resigned in advance simply escaped justice.
In the same tone, the force said they would have been dismissed had they still been in the force- a suitable excuse for the brutes to escape justice.
The recurrence of serious racism by police officers confirms the comfort they feel in behaving that way in a force filled with other officers, making it obvious that many of their colleagues share the awful sentiments they display, or at least shield them until they are finally exposed by upright officers who refuse to tolerate such bigotry in their midst.
The IOPC has been contacted for comment.