MET POLICE Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has turned down a meeting with the President of the National Black Police Association (NBPA) chief following fresh claims of racism experienced senior Black officers.
Andy George told The Voice he was disappointed that the Met chief had refused to discuss his concerns in the wake of a call by the NBPA for Black Londoners to boycott joining the Met.
The NBPA demand followed the recent announcement that the current Chair of the Met Black Police Association (Met BPA), Inspector Charles Ehikioya, is facing gross misconduct proceedings after he allegedly received and sent inappropriate WhatsApp messages.
Abused
However, details surrounding the charges against Inspector Ehikioya have not been released to the public and the NBPA insist he was racially abused in a WhatsApp group and is not being treated as the victim.
George claims that Rowley’s refusal to talk is evidence of the fact that the force lacks the ability to reform.
He said: “Sir Mark Rowley refused to meet me as President of an association representing members across the UK and who was willing to work with him to help the MPS move forward.
“He replaced the previous Commissioner due to her defence of the workforce and reluctance to accept the crisis in confidence after many reports of racism, discrimination and eventually the murder of Sarah Everard.
“There has been a desire to silence dissenting voices including an attempt to weaken the Met BPA who have spoken out against racism within the MPS for 30 years.”
Baroness Louise Casey was commissioned to lead a year-long review into policing standards after the tragic kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer Wayne Couzens in March 2021 plunged the force into disarray.
The resulting report, the Casey Review, published in March last year, concluded that the Met is still suffering from institutional racism, sexism and homophobia and cannot “police itself” in one of the most scathing reviews of its 200-year history.
It comes after horrific WhatsApp messages laden with racism, misogyny and homophobia emerged from Charing Cross Police station and the photographs of two murdered sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman were taken by two police officers meant to be guarding the scene.
However George told The Voice that Rowley, who had previously come under fire for refusing to describe racism within the force as institutional, has shown a reluctance to take key steps in addressing the issue.
Reform
He said: “We do not believe the Met has the desire or ability to reform. Fundamental reform is needed and all options should be explored including extreme measures such as we had in Northern Ireland.
We do not believe the Met has the desire or ability to reform. Fundamental reform is needed and all options should be explored
Andy George, President, National Black Police Association
“If the MPS is genuine in its desire to move forward and build trust with Black Londoners, then they will adequately resource the Met BPA and free them up to deal with the increased demands we face.”
Speaking about the NBPA’s recent call for Black Londoners to boycott the Met George said: “Since the press release regarding our recommendation that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities do not join the MPS, I have had numerous officers reach out to me desperately asking for their stories to be heard.
“Baroness Casey found Black officers were 81% more likely to face misconduct and we have seen the Department of Professional Standards being weaponized against those who speak out against the MPS.”
Following the NBPA’s call for a boycott Mina Smallman, the mother of the murdered sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman, said: “I am dismayed that rather than work with the association, the Met is now targeting the chair of the Met BPA.
“The NBPA are critical in helping policing improve after the scathing report from Baroness Casey.”
Leroy Logan MBE, former Met BPA Chair said: “The MPS has done what it can to prevent the Met BPA from forming and ever since its inception has tried to remove the honest voice of our members from public debate.
“I myself was targeted as Chair of the Met BPA, so it comes as no surprise to me that they have decided to target the current Chair.”
The Voice approached the Metropolitan Police for comment.
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4 Comments
Not surprised. Mark Rowley is a coward and lacks leadership.
The Police Constabularies, and Metropolitan Police Constables, habitually over police His Majesty’s African-skinned men, women, and youth, with an attitude of questioning or searching for evidence to support their assumption of guilt.
“Baroness Casey found African-skinned Police Constables were 81% more likely to face misconduct,” than Caucasian Police Constables.
Despite the weight of evidence revealing serious police disparity, and injustice against African-skinned people, and Police Constables.
The MET POLICE Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, has turned down a meeting with the President of the National Black Police Association (NBPA) chief, following fresh claims of racism experienced by senior African-skinned Police Constables.
Why are England’s African-skinned people so slow with comprehending the stark truth?
African-skinned men and women are not welcomed as Police Constables: or in most politically parties-especially Sir Kier Starmer’s Labour Party, the BBC, the Anglican Church, and academia.
Ethnic African-skinned men, women, and youth, are not wanted by the institutions of England.
African-skinned people ought to give serious attention to assisting the nations of continental Africa, or the Caribbean.
I’ve been targeted by the Police for decades and there’s been no help. The level of harm and severe damage and abuse done and processes used in targeting black women on this level is immense. The things done to me are incredible and intense. I am shocked no one knows about these things or even the account of Jenny Cooper registers when it comes to these serious issues (Jenny Copper- Stand Up To Racism). I deal with the collaboratvie sort and then there’s an odd type of cointelish situation and then chasing you out of your home and harming you and family members. There are No words. The Met isn’t deeply racist in Pockets and it’s alarming seriously.
maybe we should focus on the crime first yes?