Police Scotland is 'institutionally racist': Chief constable

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
25 May 2023 21:52

The revelation comes amid widespread worry about UK police, most notably the country's largest force, the Metropolitan Police in London.

Demonstrators hold banners as they take part in the 'Raise the Alarm' protest outside New Scotland Yard police headquarters, in London, Britain, February 18, 2023 (Reuters)

Police Scotland is "institutionally racist" and "discriminatory", the force's chief constable stated on Thursday, following a review into its culture.

Iain Livingstone's revelation comes amid widespread worry about UK police, particularly at the country's largest force, the Metropolitan Police in London.

The independent review into Police Scotland, released on Wednesday, unmasked accounts of racism, and sexism by serving officers.

"The right thing for me to do as chief constable (is) to clearly state that institutional racism, sexism, and discrimination exist," said Livingstone.

"Police Scotland is institutionally racist and discriminatory," he told the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), a government body that oversees the police.

Police Scotland is facing a public investigation over the murder of Sheku Bayoh, a Black man who died in prison while being restrained by six officers.

It is investigating if race had a role in the death of Bayoh, 31, in Kirkcaldy, north of Edinburgh, in 2015.

Earlier this month, many former officers spoke out about a "boys club" attitude that pervades all ranks of Police Scotland.

The report of the SPA review committee included charges of persistent discrimination against minority populations, as well as firsthand instances of racism.

A degree of skepticism and even outright fear about raising concerns existed in the Scottish police, it added.

"We heard of people being 'punished' for raising issues or concerns, for example being sidelined within teams or moved to a less convenient location," it stated.

In March UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called for "top to bottom" reform of London's Metropolitan Police, after similar findings were made.

The assessment, prepared by government official Louise Casey, was commissioned in the aftermath of serving officer Wayne Couzens' kidnapping, rape, and murder of a woman in 2021, which outraged the country.

Couzens was sentenced to life in prison. Since then, another officer, David Carrick, has been condemned to life in prison for numerous rapes and sexual assaults, further undermining the public's already shaky faith.

Casey, who found there was "institutional racism, and sexism" in the Met, said the force had to "change itself".

Because of its failed response to the racist murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence in 1993, the Met was accused of systemic racism in 1999.