PCs suspended over photos of murder scene

Powerful words from their mother in this BBC article:

apple.news/AFDKpqEVlTXGVVHBDegawnQ

I noticed the lack of coverage of these murders. To the point that I genuinely wondered if there was a reporting restriction of some sort. The complete silence over a stranger killing of two women seemed so odd. Having watched the news of the last 24 hours, I’ve concluded that it’s just that magic combination of misogyny and structural racism

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-52954908

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/06/10/two-daughters-archdeacon-stabbed-death-birthday-party-park-london/

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jun/12/london-sisters-nicole-smallman-bibaa-henry-murdered-stranger-police

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/wembley-deaths-bodies-murdered-sisters-22162741

I'm concerned by the lack of media coverage. Two women murdered in a public park (before it was dark I believe) by a stranger and hardly any coverage

There was media coverage. I saw it on the BBC, in The Times and the Guardian very soon after the incident.

I think there is a need to be careful about framing this entirely as a racist incident. As tempting as that may be. We don't even know who the killer was, yet

They absolutely should be named, shamed and subjected to due process in the criminal justice system.

I will be amazed (in a positive way) if that happens.

They have to be named, shamed and sent to prison. Those lovely women, snuffed out by a monster and then degraded even in death by those trusted to seek justice. Their poor families.

This sums it up for me. Appalling

Bibaa was a social worker. It could be race related. Or it could be because of her job. Or it could be another reason entirely.

If they can't brush this under the carpet with quiet medical retirements, the Met may prosecute these two officers hoping that it will deflect from the ongoing and structural racism, sexism and abuse of power that underpins the police force.

It makes me wonder that if those police officers are so lacking in basic decency and empathy to take photos like this, what other key human qualities are they also missing?

I think the point is, it clearly was no bar to two of them becoming police officers.

Most careless, as Oscar Wilde would have said.

Most careless.

I noticed the lack of coverage of these murders. To the point that I genuinely wondered if there was a reporting restriction of some sort. The complete silence over a stranger killing of two women seemed so odd. Having watched the news of the last 24 hours, I’ve concluded that it’s just that magic combination of misogyny and structural racism.

As for those police officers sharing selfies, words fail me. They absolutely fail me. How can anyone be so lacking in common human decency to do such a thing, let alone people who are there to uphold the law? And the really chilling thing is that there is a WhatsApp group that are sufficiently likeminded for the perpetrators to assume they’ll find it funny. Fortunately at least one person didn’t, but how many are in this group and how many other groups like it exist? I fear the prosecution of these two will cover up a far bigger structural problem

As I recall it, a man was improsoned for 6 weeks after unzipping a body bag and photographing a Grenville victim. I think the charge was sending offending or obscene pictures over the telecoms system.

Yes, linked upthread.

My heart goes out to these women and their families. How two women can be murdered so viciously in the midst of BLM and it go so underreported is very disturbing to me.

I agree. It's frankly bizarre.

I find it odd. On the one hand police can be so overexposed that they can lose sensitivity as a defence mechanism, but at the same time they are also so exposed to families and consequences that they shouldn't, IYSWIM.

Baffling.

It sounds like the sisters did some damage before they died. Good for them. Poor women.

Urghh it's revolting. Using these poor woman as porn or violence fetish objects.

As I recall it, a man was improsoned for 6 weeks after unzipping a body bag and photographing a Grenville victim. I think the charge was sending offending or obscene pictures over the telecoms system.

I hope that as well as being sacked these individuals are charged and imprisoned.

Oh, I hadn't read to the end of the article. It goes on to mention the blood loss. Sorry.

Yes I've been meeting with friends in the park for an evening drink.

I know the Reading attacks had more coverage but the coverage did seem to stop quite quickly terrorist attacks tend to dominate the press for a few days.

From the Mail article: "Detectives said the suspect received a significant injury or injuries during the attack and is thought to have left the park via the Valley Drive entrance."

How would they know about the injury? I can only guess that the suspect must have left a trail of blood, and therefore that DNA analysis has enabled them to identify him as male.

My heart goes out to these women and their families. How two women can be murdered so viciously in the midst of BLM and it go so underreported is very disturbing to me.
The added trauma of the way these despicable officers behaved makes me indeed very concerned about what is regarded as ‘normal’ behaviour for them???

The lack of interest could be due to race but I still find it odd simply because the killer was a stranger & is still on the loose. That's quite a hook for the press

Agree - Londoners are doing most of their socialising in open spaces. The 'stay together' message may not be adequate if there is a multiple/simultaneous attacker.

The 'white woman' factor in press reporting of and whole society response to crimes is well known GrabtharsHammer and I think you make good points in your post

The lack of interest could be due to race but I still find it odd simply because the killer was a stranger & is still on the loose. That's quite a hook for the press.

Oh shut up. That's not the most important fact here

It is hiwever a very important fact.

And whatever one thinks of the overwhelming likelihood, until it is known as fact it is wrong to present it as such.

It is a horrible thing for these officers to have done, it's hit headline news (which tends to show rareness) and is leading to immediate and apparently severe disciplinary action (shows that it is not tolerated)

I'm prepared to bet a squillion pounds that the police officers were male.

As to whether race had anything to do with it, probably. But since I'm sure we can all agree that the sex of the victims is relevent here, the question isn't "would they have done this if the victim was a white male" but "would they have done this if the victim was a white woman". I don't know. Probably, but I also expect there would have been more general uproar and media coverage of it. I expect the general lack of media interest is due to race as well as sex. A black man or a white woman and it might have got more attention. Black women don't seem to exist for a lot of people - intersectionality in action (in its true meaning). Theres a lipstick Alley thread atm about how a lot of black women feel they might as well be a separate race to black men given how differently they feel their lives are valued. Either way this case is absolutely horrific and I hope the police officers, no matter their sex (again, if they aren't male I'll die of shock) are at least sacked and preferably prosecuted.

Someone who stabs 2 strangers to death is very likely to do it again if not caught.