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@ Nolan, Londonist

Were you there then?

- Frank, Home Counties, England., 15/10/2009 16:32
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So it's OK to stand and watch every time you think someone's committing a crime?

I must remember that next time I see a pimp or a pusher at work.

- Jonathan Begg, London, UK, 15/10/2009 09:59
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Foe those questioning Mr Hinds behaviour: he saw a group of police arresting a young black man and stood where he could observe from a distance in case he was needed as a witness. He did not interfere or involve himself in the situation in any way but was approached by a police officer who swore at him and told him to leave. When he pointed out that he had every right to stand in a train station (he was waiting for his young son to arrive) he was handcuffed and charged with threatening behaviour. The case was thrown out of court when it became clear that the police had made up statements (this was later admitted by the police).

Mr Hinds is not a troublemaker, he works with the police on youth projects. Read his statement and try and find fault with it:

"My message to them is: we understand you've got a difficult job and you won't get it right 100% of the time, and we want you there to help safeguard our communities, but we want you to do it in a fair and just way. When you do make a mistake, say sorry."

That's fair enough, isn't it?

- Nolan, Londonist, 15/10/2009 09:44
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I have no doubt this individual stood by and kept his mouth shut!

We have all seen the TV Police shows, the minorities in our community are always so obliging when stopped by a officer of the Law.

- Frank, Home Counties, England., 15/10/2009 09:34
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So many openly racist comments from the readers of a bankrupt country. No wonder so many youth are taking to a nasty, radical Islam in reaction. I have never been ill-treated by the police or immigration, the encounters people complain most of, during the 40 years I have lived here, but have no difficulty in affirming that they are mostly covert BNP supporters. And why not, since non whites refuse to learn they are and always will remain decidedly second class in white, but increaingly to become impoverished, Britain.

- Minority, Stanmore, 15/10/2009 06:58
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Was Ken Hinds really just an innocent bystander? Maybe so but, as has already been mentioned, there's normally 2 sides to any story and we're being given the most sensational version of events. And what of the £22K compensation? IMO it defies common sense but the legal system enables such disproportionate awards to be made so I say why be mad at Ken Hinds for that. If I was in his shoes I wouldn't turn that chunk of cash down

- Despair, Slough, UK, 14/10/2009 23:40
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£5500 per hour? What warrants this?

- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants, 14/10/2009 20:26
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Im sure he will put the money back into the community

- Will, London, 14/10/2009 19:01
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For 8 coppers to stop the youth then he must have been up to something or acting suspiciously. Young Asian men, young Black men and young white hoodies get stopped and searched because they carry out the most crime. End of. If you have nothing to hide then what's the problem. I am Irish and in the 80s I was stopped loads of time because the IRA were active and dangerous. Same now with the Islamists so youg Asian guys get stopped. Get over it and forget about it and stop playing the race card. Plenty of chavvy white boys get stopped and searched, and rightly so. When the 40+ generation (of all races) commit most of the street crimes then we'll accept stop and search gladly.

- Micheal M, London, 14/10/2009 17:57
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What a disgrace. The BTP obviously believe that they are a detachment of the SS. The officers should have been sacked 'to encourage the others' - clearly they were at fault, otherwise why apologise. Things have got to change.

- Extopcop, London, 14/10/2009 17:50
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£22,000 of taxpayers money for this? Absolutely disgraceful.
The "black community" commit a disproportionate amount of crime (fact, check the stats), that is why they attract a disproportionate amount of attention from Police.

- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 14/10/2009 17:48
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There are two sides to every story, we are just hearing one at the moment. I'm sure he wasn't just arrested for "looking", i'm sure there was more to it than that.

- Sense, LONDON, 14/10/2009 17:12
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Have I missed something? There is no allegation that the Police stopping the youth was inproper is there? This man comes up and tries to interfere with the Police doing their job is told to go away, but as usual no respect is shown and he ends up being handcuffed. Do any f you have any idea how much abuse and physical intimidation the average Policeman endures? They are there to protect us and we should show some faith and respect to them. If they do something wrong then report them, but take a good look in the mirror first.

- Mark, London, 14/10/2009 16:36
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i think this was racist. I am a well dressed white woman in my late fifties. I am also quite nosy. If I had been in this situation I might well have stopped to take a look but I bet I wouldn't have been treated in the way Mr. Hinds was and been "nicked" by the Police.

- Mary, London, 14/10/2009 16:30
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Blair and Brown's Britain gets more like Nazi Germany every day.

Did our fathers and grandfathers fight Hitler so their families could live under this increasing oppression?

We saw how free speech was curtailed at the Labour Party conference a couple of years ago when an old man was arrested.

Nowadays it seems only fanatical Muslims can make a stand on the streets of Britain.

I am glad I don't live in Britain; it's not a country I recognize any more

- David Short, Tunis, Tunisia, 14/10/2009 15:44
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If Mr Hinds had to take it to the High Court himself then I would imagine the 20K will go to his lawyers.

Why did the "Independent" Police Complaints Commission refuse to investigate? Twice.

- Thalia, London, 14/10/2009 15:10
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The gentleman was plainly incredibly badly treated by the BTP and that is totally unacceptable. However the end result here should have been a fulsome and unreserved apology from the Police and the sacking of the officers involved, but not the payment of £22 000.00.

- Matt, London, UK, 14/10/2009 15:04
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It amazes me how often people condemn every police officer because of the behaviour of some. Just another stereotype but one which can't be defended. For every bad officer, there are more who would put their life on the line for you.

- Jg, London, 14/10/2009 14:45
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This has nothing to do with race. My friend was arrested in EXACTLY the same circumstances in Willesden, and he was WHITE. We stopped to observe a white youth being arrested, a police officer told us to mind our own business and keep walking, my friend said "we were not doing anything and had every right to be there", then one of them said "OK, have it your way them, your nicked", he spent 3 hours in jail and then was let go. Easy pay out nowaday, playing the race card.

- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London, 14/10/2009 13:55
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I am amazed that people of minorities are trying to suggest this is racial. This has been the normal behaviour of the police for many years regardless of any colour or creed the recipient wishes to pigeon hole them-selves as belonging too.

Let’s be clear though, the guys on the ground are just carrying out the will of those that control them.

- Ian, Reading, England, 14/10/2009 13:40
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The comment by Michael of London is very correct in regards to the way the police are conducting themselves these days, not many people realise this but if you try to film the police while they are conducting a stop and search you risk being arrested for obstruction and this can easily happen if you are doing this from the comfort of your own home and are seen to be doing so, so beware, for the government are partly to blame for this with there erosion of our laws and rights and the inch by inch move towards a policed state. Sadly it seems more important to the Met to pay up and shut us up than to risk admitting fault and losing public confidence.

- Wil, Tottenham, London, 14/10/2009 13:38
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I'm surprised to say that up to a point I agree with Ahmed: these officers should be fired (immediately and without any compensation). They broke the law, they have cost their employer £22,000 in compensation, and they have cost the taxpayer very many times that in legal expenses. Presumably the expense is mostly because they lied (on oath? - perjury), rather than telling the truth and accepting some form of disciplinary punishment at the time.

Where I disagree is that I hope that they are not representative of the police as a whole. That's why it is really important that they *are* fired. A few bad apples rapidly infect the whole box with rot, if they aren't thrown out as soon as they are noticed.

- Nigel, London, 14/10/2009 13:31
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"A charge of threatening and abusive behaviour was dropped after magistrates decided one of the Pcs was "not a credible witness"."

In other words, the court believed that at least one of the police officers was a liar. Do we really need people like this in the police force?

- Michael, Glasgow, 14/10/2009 13:29
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Ahmed like most people I don't condone the behaviour of the BT Police in this case. They should be disciplined and dealt with in very strong terms where appropriate (not all 8 (?) officers were presumably involved in the incident/to the same extent).

Your other comments, however, are absurd, misrepresentative, and insulting to the vast majority of Met Police who risk their lives every day doing a very difficult and essential job.


Londoners, on the whole, have a very good Police Force. Of course it isn't perfect and can do better.

- Chris, london, 14/10/2009 13:16
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The Police were doing their Job interfere with them you get arrested simple as that.

These incidents create an enviroment were police target white people more often as they are to frightend to be hit with the race card.

The Stats show violent crime is generated more from the Black comunity than White, Therefore good Officers are unable to function operations in the way needed to cut crime.

Political Correctness = Eroded society, Decent folk suffer criminals cash in.

- Stephen Curry, Barnet, 14/10/2009 13:15
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just how stupid can you be and get in the police ?

- Squiz, Islington, 14/10/2009 12:59
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"30 years on, relations with the police and the black community have not improved." Perhaps certain elements of the "community" should look at the way they act within greater society of which they are a part. To a large extent their treatment is self inflicted. The time for excuses vanished long ago.

- Nelly, East London, 14/10/2009 12:54
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Not only does this highlight the extreme arrogance and incompetence of certain officers, it also shows up how much money is wasted. This happen in May 2004! That's just over 5 years ago... £22,000 is one thing... think how much has this whole case cost us the tax payer in legal costs those years.

- Paul B, London, 14/10/2009 12:43
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Might i bring to the attintion of those who seem to think that Mr Hinds was awarded money due to racism, that he was in fact awareded the money for "false imprisonment and malicious prosecution". I seems stange to me that those of you are so quick to cast opinions on racism when you have absolutly no idea of what it feels like to be treated differently due to the colour of your skin. You cannot use examples of when similar things happend to you and assume, "well that wasnt rasist. The same thing happend to me!" you have never looked into someones eyes and relized the only reason this could be happending is because i am a different colour to them!

- Michael, London, 14/10/2009 12:29
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People are becoming just as frightened of the police as they are of any other type of street thugs. And this is intentional: with their paramilitary get-up, they increasingly look like storm troopers. More fear – less respect. A bad state of affairs.

- Peter Cox, London UK, 14/10/2009 12:07
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Ahmed, your comments are insulting to all those who are work in the Police and trying their damn hardest to provide fair policing for all. Of course, there is a minority (as there is across all society)of bigots and thugs, to deny this is to deny that improvements do need to be made. But to generalise and stereotype as you have done serves no purpose but to indulge your own bigotry and predujices. Ironic that you are most probably doing in your comments what the police involved in this did. Seems, that no matter our colour or our job some of us human beings are very alike.

- Mikki, London, 14/10/2009 12:02
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Rather than getting caught up in the fact that this is deemed racial - most of you seem to be forgetting that this man was arrested for doing nothing. He was a bystander looking at the police carrying out an inspection and possible arrest. Does that mean the police can shout abuse at him and tell him to eff off. No it doesn't.

Does it mean that we should all suffer the upset of being arrested shoud we chose to observe our police in action. No it does not.

If the police admit no fault then why pay compensation? You have no idea what the man will do with the money - you asssume he has done this for personal gain.

Lin, London - a road accident and being arrested for dong nothing do not compare. They are two different types of experiences.

I have observed police in south london stop a young boy on a push bike. ask him where he got the bike and who brought it for him etc etc. When i said that the young boy (12 at most) hadnt done anything so was surprised he was stopped. I was told to go about my business by one of the officers or they would "take an interest" in me instead. Which one of us was black? Does it matter? The police lost my support from that day on.

- Rachroo, South London, 14/10/2009 11:47
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Quote: Steve, London. Why is this racial, I've been done over by the police before for doing nothing wrong and didn't cry racism. Plenty of people treat the police with suspicion and they are not all black.

I second that post of Steve's; and it was the same 50 years ago etc.

I was beaten in a Black Maria, by a bunch of Police Officers from Paddington Green Police Station. I was a skinny 15 years old kid, even with a battered face, broken nose, and split lips still caked with blood in Marylebone Magistrates Court the next morning, charged with assaulting several fully mature large police officers; I was told by the Magistrate, he see's no reason why the police officers would lie; I pointed to my face that he could see full well; look at them, and look at me, I pointed out; who assaulted who your honour?

He found me guilty in his opinion; and find me five pounds for assaulting those police officers.

This was not unusual in those days, almost every friend I had, were treated the same by the police; and not one of us was black, nor did we get any kind of compensation, it just never happened in those days; the police were all powerful, and always believed in court etc.

- Mickinlondon, london, 14/10/2009 11:32
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There's no proof whatsoever that this is racial so trying to make it look that way is just politicking on his behalf and a smear on the officers involved. If police don't use stop and search, crime shoots up, if they do, they get accused of bigotry or unfairness. What are the actual circumstances of this man "watching" the search? Was he there as a hostile witness to it, or as a neutral observer. Often people claim to be simply "witnessing" a police action but are in fact looking for anything they can use to make malicious complaints with as they have an axe to grind. Why should police have to put up with that kind of rubbish when they're doing their job?

- H Morgan, London, 14/10/2009 11:32
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Nice to see you so open minded Ahmed. Of course you're not racist at all are you? It just shines through in your comments. As for the case in point we'll never know the full facts. He was just watching the police arrest the other person was he? Never said anything? Never did anything? The award is peanuts and allows the matter to be settled without any liability being accepted by the police. He talks about 30 years where attitudes haven't changed and it is true, they haven't changed for professional 'race workers' like him. The change in policing and police training has been immense over the past 30+ years. No other organisation has become more PC or bent over backwards to accommodate those who shout loudest. I bet he'll still get his fees and expenses from hsi day job though.

- Ranter, Maidstone. UK, 14/10/2009 11:20
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I am furious that £22,000 of my money has been paid to Mr Hinds. I am not however furious with Mr Hinds but with the police.

I see no link to racism in this compensation, it is for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution. It is just that Mr Hinds happens to be black. The police are lucky not to be charged.

What is wrong with this large element of our police. Why aren't the officers controlling them? Total disgrace.

Mr Hinds sounds like one of the good guys. Hope he doesn't give up his good work, I know I would.

- Stephen C, London, 14/10/2009 11:16
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It's not just black people. White people get this treatment too. Sadly, the quality of Met officers is a lot lower than it was. Too many of them behave like thugs. Something needs to be done about this and soon. Londoners no longer have confidence in the police force that is there to protect them. Instead that police force abuses them and assaults them. What makes a police officer believe that he can ever tell anyone to F.Off.

- Cameron, London, W2, 14/10/2009 11:10
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I am not surprised. what is the vetting procedure to work for the police. From my I experience of the police , those who join you have to be a bigot, bully and some one who lies to cover up for your colleagues. It's a closed shop where they never admit to their racist attitude ( except to their racist colleagues in secret) even when they have been caught red handed. i think these officers should be sacked immediately. fat chance of that happening! but one can only hope.

- Ahmed, London, 14/10/2009 10:56
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Well I'm sure the £22K has soothed any hurt feelings for the stress of being hancuffed & held in a cell for a short time. Either way the police can't win. Stop & Search can & should be used more. OK police do profile (And why not?) & certain ultra PC members of our ethnic commumities take exception to this but look at the figures for knife & gun crime & perhaps they should be looking a little closer to home as to why the police profile in the way they do in certain parts of London. Of course in the twisted world of the PC brigade all the police are fascists/racists & all the knife & gun weilding hoodies are vulnerable & misunderstood & in crisis ostracised by a prejudiced society that restricts their life chances. Hmmmmmmm......

- Dalstonblogger, London, 14/10/2009 10:42
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Peter, you obviously haven't thought your idea through. If every police officer wore an audio/video device to show everything they did, things would be much, much worse. Mostly because Officers would just stop taking chances like checking into that that guy standing by himself with a hood on his head and looking down every time the police come near. If the police are to be monitored 24/7 for the few bad apples in their ranks, what about Society as a whole? There are more people committing crimes than there are police to catch them.

- Deillon, London, 14/10/2009 10:41
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Let's hope the police thug gets a severe reprimand; but I doubt it.

- Mark Myword, London, 14/10/2009 10:35
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This was a disgraceful abuse of power, in which the police were shown to have lied and tried to cover up afterwards. I suppose I should be astonished that these officers are still working for the police, but I'm not.

- Nolan, Londonist, 14/10/2009 09:54
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The only solution to these types of incidents is that all police must be 'fitted' with video/audio recording devices to ensure that suspects have evidence of their arrest and the circumstances under which they were arrested.

- Peter, Harrow, UK, 14/10/2009 09:52
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Why is this racial, I've been done over by the police before for doing nothing wrong and didn't cry racism. Plenty of people treat the police with suspicion and they are not all black.

- Steve, London, 14/10/2009 09:51
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1. The Police obviously didn't know the Law, and use their 'authority' to try and browbeat ALL members of the Public.

2. This article reveals yet another racially divisive committee advising Police workings.

Maybe if all minority group committees were disbanded, the Police would treat all UK citizens in exactly the same way ???

- Cap, London, 14/10/2009 09:35
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This is the sort of story that makes me feel sick , there are so many more stories like this also . Especially with regards to the police based around South London , the police forget that they are there to protect our rights , not decide whether we should have them or not .

- Adam, London, 14/10/2009 09:31
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£22,000 payout! what a farce! If you are severely injured in a road accident you wouldn't get that. Painful handcuffs! Four hours in a police cell! It should not have happened and that's the truth, but that payout is well over the top and not deserved.

- Lin, London England, 14/10/2009 09:27
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