By James Simons-
More than £50,000 has been raised to support two former Metropolitan Police officers who were dismissed a day after a disciplinary panel found their stop and search of two black Olympic athletes to be gross misconduct.
Ex-constables Jonathan Clapham and Sam Franks were sacked on Wednesday after their actions during the stop and search of Team GB athlete Bianca Williams, 29, and her partner, Portuguese sprinter Ricardo Dos Santos, 28, were deemed highly distressing. The officers were accused of lying about smelling cannabis when they pulled over the couple on July 4, 2020.
The JustGiving crowdfunding page, which pledges to “support the officers and their families” during a time of austerity, quickly amassed over £50,000 from some 1,798 supporters. However, this fundraiser has ignited a fierce online debate.
Critics argue that the fundraiser is “sickening” and indicative of a deeper issue, suggesting that it reflects racial bias. They point out that no Black police officer dismissed by the Met Police for lying has received this level of financial support, underlining concerns of racial discrimination.
Others have labeled the fundraiser “disgusting” and called for the Met Police to remove it. This incident has shone a spotlight on the complexities of race, policing, and public opinion.
The police officers had followed Bianca Williams and Ricardo Dos Santos as they drove to their London home from training with their three-month-old baby in the back seat. The couple was handcuffed and searched on suspicion of having drugs and weapons, but nothing was found.
This incident highlights the ongoing debate about the appropriate use of stop and search powers by the police and the need for increased transparency and accountability.
The fundraising page acknowledges that the officers were dismissed without notice and states, “Every penny will go to the support of the officers and their families.”
In response to the ruling, Ms. Williams, who won bronze in the 4x100m at the World Athletics Championships earlier this year, expressed her relief at the outcome, saying, “It’s a huge step in the right direction for people who continue to get stopped by the police and have that same old excuse about smelling of cannabis when nothing has been found.”
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward has issued an apology to the couple, acknowledging the distress they have suffered, and has reaffirmed the importance of honesty and integrity in policing.
He also recognized the need for the police to earn the trust of communities, particularly black communities, in matters related to stop and search.