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Pc 'taunted black officers with ape impressions'
Tim Stewart26 Feb 2009
SCOTLAND Yard faces more race charges after two black officers claimed they had to endure "monkey taunts" from a colleague.
Police Community Support Officers Clint Charles and Wayne Bell say a white constable performed ape impressions in front of them.
The constable would allegedly bounce on his feet, swing his arms and nod his head while pulling "ape-like" faces.
PCSOs Charles, 38, and Bell, 40, are each claiming £100,000 from the Met for race discrimination and harassment.
The pair, who both hope to become full police constables shortly, are demanding aggravated damages and compensation for hurt feelings.
Their alleged tormentor was transferred to another police station. But they claim the Met discriminated against them by failing to take their complaints more seriously.
Mr Charles, of Greenford, and Mr Bell, of Westminster, work in the Met's traffic division in Hammersmith Grove.
In legal papers submitted to Watford Employment Tribunal, Mr Charles said: "In or around November 2007, [the constable] approached me swinging his arms, nodding his head and bouncing on his feet.
"He had a leer on his face. He was clearly impersonating how he considered black youths conduct themselves."
In January last year, the white constable allegedly repeatedly made "ape-like" faces as he sat opposite Mr Charles. Mr Charles, who is of Grenadian origin, said: "His intention was to mock me and PCSO Bell because we are black Afro-Caribbeans."
In legal papers, Mr Bell, who is of Jamaican origin, said: "[The constable] on numerous occasions spoke to me mimicking a stereotypical west Indian accent and manner.
"When so speaking, he would wave his arms, roll about on his feet and speak in a loud, squeaky and, sometimes, slurred voice."
The pair claim they were distressed and humiliated" by the alleged repeated taunts.
Mr Bell won a police commendation for bravery in 2007 after he prevented a member of the public from committing suicide on a motorway.
The Met strongly denies race discrimination and harassment and is vigorously contesting the pair's claims, which are due to be heard next month.
The claims came as Scotland Yard's commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson declared his force is no longer institutionally racist - the charge levelled at the Met by the Macpherson report into the Stephen Lawrence investigation.
But the allegations meant Sir Paul - speaking this week on the 10th anniversary of the report - was forced to admit there remained "pockets of stupidity and bigotry" in the force.
At the same time Stephen's mother Doreen Lawrence said that while senior officers are committed to eradicating racism, the message often does not filter down the ranks.
Reader views (20)
I'm so tired of these Nu Labor PCS.
- Steve, London, 26/02/2009 16:22
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And I though the police was there to catch criminals?
- Peteo, London, NW1, 26/02/2009 16:14
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If the PC did the actions alleged then he is stupid and should have been dealt with promptly and no longer be in the job.
However...it seems there are suddenly a rush of race and other claims from PCSO's jumping into the public eye demanding money from the MET. Could it be that they are worried they won't have a job soon or trying to justify their existance, as only the other week there were reports they (as a whole, not one race, sex etc before anyone says) were not worth the money - 2 tickets issued per year on avg.
also i can't help think thhat all these race claims are being pushed politically from behind the scenes
Sorry, me being cynical
- J, London, 26/02/2009 15:30
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It would be foolish to deny that some individuals are seriously unpleasant characters and need to be dealt with, however, British public institutions are saturated in anti discriminatory controls and monitoring and management is obsessed with proving their compliance credentials. To generalise from some bully to blaming the whole institution is being driven by the crazy money that has become involved. Prosecute the individual concerned for racism, the police show no lack of enthusiasm to do so elsewhere.
- Frank, Dorchester Dorset, 26/02/2009 15:28
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I thought everyone is innocent until proven guilty ! Two side to every story.
- Rosie-Cayman Islands, Cayman Islands, 26/02/2009 15:21
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I have to say, things like this beggar belief. Even if the PC concerned was a BNP and National Front membership holding, out and out racist, would he really do something so obviously stoopid? What would he hope to gain for his cause? If anything, people these days are over cautious with comments and actions that could be construed to be racist, especially in the public sector. It's hard to fathom what would make a police office, trained to remain calm in stressful situations, act this way. If he did and the Met allowed him through their screening process, then they deserve all they get
- Mcw, London, 26/02/2009 14:33
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The Metropolitan Police do not want to accept responsibility for inappropriate recruitment of racist thugs. Comments such as this must be dealt with and must result in immediate sacking. Denial of the truth is unacceptable. These people must be exposed and suffer the consequences.
- Kaz, London, 26/02/2009 14:29
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This is not just a case of racism. Why would any normal, decent person act this way? People should open their eyes and see how the modern police officer behaves in public - like thugs and bullies. If they opened their ears they would also hear the filthy language used by some of them in public.
I can't imagine that seeing the behaviour of the "gang" of CO19 officers in a recent television programme kicking, punching and clubbing unarmed suspects filled any viewers with pride and admiration.
Oh and before anybody trots out the old lines about how the put themselves between the public and criminals, risk their lives, stressful job, etc, etc if they don't like it or are unable to conduct themselves in a way that confirms with a civilised society they could perhaps go and work in a fast food outlet where sociopaths are most welcome.
- Tony, London, England, 26/02/2009 14:24
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If they were discriminated against, then kick the culprit out, but please is this worth yet another £100k for hurt feelings? NO! Let's have a ceiling placed on the damages awarded for all discrimination cases - serious amounts of tax payer money is being squandered.
- Londonken, London, 26/02/2009 14:21
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I am a retired Police Officer, I served in Brixton during the 2 80's riots, Tottenham and Stratham. I was a front line officer not a pen pusher. Out of all the Police Officers I worked with I would estimate I encountered 4 or 5 who were Racist, but this was back in the 80's. These officers are now retired. I am not saying racist oficers don't exist as this could never be as Racists are in all walks of life.
The above incident is being defended, the Mets policy is to normally settle out of court, however it appears on this occassion the constable is being believed and it is about time. If he is guilty throw the book at him. But hey don't hang the guy before you hear all the facts.
- John, London, 26/02/2009 14:02
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Whilst I would not condone any police officer making racist comments,these guys are now about to become full time police officers, will they be suing the drunks they arrest for emotional distress, or the Met for making them drive the poilce cars to fast.
£100,000 ??? where does this figure come from ???
Most people making claims for race of sexism against the Met are relying on the case being settled out of court to avoid the publicity.
- Steve M, London, 26/02/2009 13:30
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Sarah, the only person who needs to get the horrible chip off their shoulder is the police constable behaving in this racist manner towards his work collegues. How can we have people like this policing our streets given the diverse multi-cultural society we live in?
- Danielle, London, 26/02/2009 13:14
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This is exactly why racism will never go away because it's obvious from comments that people think this behaviour is all right. It's not right! It is never all right! It's sustained abuse. Getting taunts and abuse from the public is one thing, but getting abuse from your colleagues, people who are supposed to back you up in dangerous situations is unnacceptable in this city in 2009.
- Billy, London, 26/02/2009 13:03
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If more people complained to their Federation or union reps or to the NBPOA or to their senior officers as soon as this kind of thing started, we wouldn't have so much of it.
- Colin, Kent, Maidstone GB, 26/02/2009 13:01
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It seems the people who have posted above have never been the victim of racial taunts/abuse and think that such behaviour is acceptable, one should get over it or it is as simple as telling someone to get a life. Working as a policeman, this particular individual, if the claims are true, should know better and keep his personal opinion and actions to himself or when he is around like minded people. He is clearly foolish to make ape noises and mimic afro carribbean speech. Throw the book at him I say. Clearly stupid and should not be in the police force anyway with such jaded and primitive behaviour and thinking. And you wonder why people still think The Met and others are institutionally racist? Well, here is the proof.
- Jenny, London UK, 26/02/2009 12:57
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100,000 for hurt feelings? ... the other day i was called a camel for being syrian. Could I get 100,000 too?
- Joe, London, 26/02/2009 12:29
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Cap, John and Sarah. You have got to be kidding me? If this is true it is totally not on.
If an officer is going to behave like this to a collegue how is he going to behave to the public?
The police have an image problem and behaviour like this doenst help
- Stuart, UK, 26/02/2009 12:19
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So what!!!! can't people be themselves anymore....I do impressions of birds,animals etc so does that make me a racist....these people need to get that horrible chip off their shoulders as this is going too far.
- Sarah, London, 26/02/2009 11:57
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Here we go again. Hold the front page! I don't suppose the two PCSOs had a word with him, such as "get a life and go away", or "don't be so childish, you look stupid", or even "I'll report you if this continues". Distressed and humiliated? How about angry and bigger than he is?. These guys want to be policemen for heaven's sake.
- John, Arezzo, Italy, 26/02/2009 11:55
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So too have I 'endured' monkey taunts.
It ISN'T a race thing, get a life !
(and a British sense of humour)
- Cap, London, 26/02/2009 11:52
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