Detective accuses police of racism

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A black policeman who was racially assaulted by two of the Stephen Lawrence murder suspects is claiming he is the victim of "institutional racism" within the police.

Gareth Reid, who was racially abused and assaulted by Neil Acourt and David Norris close to the scene of Stephen's murder, claims he was refused extra responsibilities in the Met because of his ethnic origin.

An employment tribunal heard how he suffered "direct and subtle" racial discrimination at the hands of his superiors-while he was a detective constable at Peckham.

The 38-year-old and his family were rehoused following death threats from Combat 18 after the trial of Acourt and Norris.

Last year Acourt, 28, and Norris, 26, were each jailed for 18 months after being found guilty of racially aggravated intentional harassment in 2001.

The pair hurled a drinks container and shouted " nigger" at off-duty Dc Reid in Eltham, less than half a mile from where Stephen Lawrence was killed 10 years ago.

Acourt stood trial for the murder of Stephen, but was acquitted. Charges against Norris never came to court.

Dc Reid, a trained firearms officer with 11 years on the force, told the Croydon hearing he had been ignored for promotion at the expense of less-experienced white colleagues.

Reading from his witness statement, he said: "From my perception and experience, there can be a tendency for white officers to see their black colleagues in the same way that they perceive black criminals."

Dc Reid, who is still based in Peckham, added: "I can, to some extent, cope with it on the streets because a black man in a uniform is an obvious target. It is not the kind of behaviour I expect from colleagues."

He added that he felt Peckham CID supported procedures "which were institutionally racist in its dealing with myself ".

The tribunal continues.

 

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