To suggest that there IS still an issue with racist police in Britain?

[AngelaKardashian]

I have just seen this video of a British police officer openly admitting that he will stop a car full of black men in "gangster clothes" (whatever that means) and it made me think of the various discussions I've had with people both in real life and on online that deny that institutional racism is a 'thing'.

I am so tired of it happening and even more tired of people refusing to acknowledge it. He said himself, most are too "scared to say it", suggesting most are thinking it too.

AIBU to say that this snapshot is only the tip of the iceburg?

I've travelled extenively in Nigeria (lived there for 2 years) and ime you are generally treated far better by the police if you are white (because you are assumed to be rich and powerful). Talk to the average Nigerian about how they are treated and compare.

If you are, in fact, talking about Boko Haram, then yes a white person is more likely to be killed that raped and/or enslaved but I would hope we could aspire to the UK police force not being on par with a terrorist organisation.

X post Charleston

Which woman? And generally the cry you hear is 'oyinbo pepe' due to sunburn.

I do believe that there are many countries with worse, sometimes much worse racist attitudes than the UK, but that is no reason to ignore the issues here.

the British are very good at covering up the past and 'moving on' like it was nothing.

this shows a very racist attitude to brits.

So who do you want not to move on, you realise that to the people you are talking about, the past to which you are refering IS nothing.

You are only linking them to it because of their ethnic origin

In my community the most prevalent racism is 'white UK' towards 'white eastern European'. It is horrible.

I don't know if the police is institutionally racist but I know a lot of officers who won't stop young black men because they then get a lot of shit from their superiors.

Yep, plenty of experience here too of white people who'll merrily spout racist shit to me, because I'm just another white person and they expect it to be OK.

I'm happy to say I've experienced this much less in the UK than in some other countries - but then I've lived in some notoriously racist countries, so that's not setting the bar terribly high.

And I know plenty of nice normal whites people who don't mind being racist if they think you won't be offended. Liberal use of the words paki etc etc

And, TBH, Asian people who make anti-black remarks and assume you'll nod cheerfully along. I've even had Indian people make anti-Pakistani "jokes" to me and expect me to laugh, which was just a weird and grubby experience.

We're still riddled by racism in all directions but obviously white racism towards BAME groups packs more punch as it has the weight of the establishment behind it.

But the police thing doesn't surprise me one bit. I'm always surprised that people find the idea of racism in the police surprising IYSWIM.

As a British person living in the USA I have found there to be less racism. However that may be because I love in a 98% white state.

Well yes that probably has everything to do with it!

Whichever woman (or man) claims to have experienced racism in Nigeria Barbarian.

Yes, basically what Manumission said.

And outright statements of "I'm allowed to be racist because I'm..."

No mate, actually you're not.

(Weirdest ever example was a white, English-born friend of Irish descent, saying "I'm allowed to be racist because I'm Irish." Well aren't you just a credit to Erin; I'm sure the Emerald Isle will be delighted to own such a charmer. Not.)

So you've heard a lot of white people claiming they've experienced racism in Nigeria because someone's called them 'oyinbo'? I have literally never come across this. I've heard quite a few white people claiming they've experience racism at roadblocks etc by police wanting "dash" without realising this happens to everyone else too only more often and worse.

Sorry to say I do think racism is rife and we are blind to it on the whole because we all live I our bubbles and don't look out unless we have to

The police target groups known for committing crimes in a given area and profile based on intelligence. If you live in London statistically more crime is committed by black people than say in Glasgow due to the demographics of that area. Black on black crime is A MASSIVE problem and gangs are typically black youths killing black youths in London.

As for recruitment. They choose the best candidates from the people who apply. If they only get white people apply then they can only choose from white people. It's not racism preventing employment. It would, however, be racist to say scrap that round of recruitment because only white people applied for the post

With regards the "covering up the past" comment it's anything but. It is acknowledged but we as a nation have it in our psyche to learn from the past and move on and not hold the mistakes of generations past tar how our youth are raised

PlayOnWurtz

If you live in London statistically more crime is committed by black people than say in Glasgow due to the demographics of that area.

Black people make up approximately 13-14% of the population in London. So yes, "statistically" more crime will be committed by black people here than in Glasgow (where it's around 3%). That doesn't mean that white people are committing any less crime. Now if we're talking about getting caught, charged and convicted of crimes, then you would be correct. White criminals tend to get away with more because a) they are not constantly under suspicion and b) even when they are caught, they tend to be treated less harshly.

They choose the best candidates from the people who apply.
And it just so happens that what they see as the "best" are arrogant, ignorant racists.

move on and not hold the mistakes of generations past tar how our youth are raised
Whose mistakes are you talking about here?

Soon you will have a slew of white mothers of white kids in here saying how they have never seen anyone being racist and how the UK is a very "tolerant" country (as if non whites are something to be tolerated). White mother of white child here and not feeling this. Growing up in South London with Black and Asian friends, particularly male friends, it was a nightmare.

I think since then it's gone more undercover. And there is still a general feeling that Black kids being stopped is OK because, you know, drugs. Even though the statistic is still that drug use is rife amongst white kids and they are more likely to be 'carrying'.

I live in Canada now, where people will tell you there's no racism. There's racism, believe me.

That's interesting MrsTerry. I had always held Canada up as my "safe" place to move to!

The video isn't loading for me but "a British police officer openly admitting that he will stop a car full of black men in "gangster clothes" (whatever that means)".

I think you're being disingenuous pretending not to know what gangster clothes are.

Statistically, especially if he was working for the MET, he's right. That is him reacting to issues far deeper in our society.

Which parts of Nigeria? Please elaborate on this racist behaviour, because my experience is that white people are treated better than locals, for complex reasons, but one major reason is that white people are seen as having (and usually do have) money and connections.

I've never been to Africa (would love to), but my experience in much of Asia is similar to this.

I think that beyond assuiming that the whitey has money, there;s a genuine interest in someone who's different. That is a polite, enquiring and hospitable interest as opposed to a fear of the 'different' I've seen in the US, Germany, France and, to a lesser extent, the UK.

Doesn't sound like things have changed much. 16 years ago in NW London I witnessed a group of white policemen attack and beat up a young black man under the pretense of stopping and searching him for driving while black and then arrest and accuse him of gbh. Luckily for him, I saw the whole thing and was willing to go to court and testify on his behalf. I am a white middle class woman and I am sure that that is the only reason he got off.

Bet not many First Nations people say this. That's exactly what I always say!

I think you're being disingenuous pretending not to know what gangster clothes are.

Kindly explain to me what they are then, ail? Because when I have just Googled "gangster" there seems to be a variation in what they wear. Does that mean that I can assume every white man in a suit is also a gangster, since that's what I see in films, just like you do with every black boy in a hoodie?

AngelaKardashian

Okay, I'll bite.

Baggy jeans hanging too low showing a lot of boxer short. Black hoodie, baseball cap. Expensive and immaculate trainers.

I can equally tell you what the majority of posters on here would consider 'yummy mummy' clothing or 'chav' or other stereotypical dress.

The clothes we choose to wear help us identify with a particular group. It would almost be insulting the wearer to suggest they don't.

I used to work with teenagers wearing 'gangsta' clothes. Baseball hat, jeans falling off, limpy walk, over-sized t-shirt. But the thing is, EVERY kid I worked with dressed like that. White, Black, no difference. People would assume the children (and they were children) of colour who wore them were criminals and the white kids who wore them were pretending to be criminals.

In fact they were all pretending to be criminals. I would see the pretense fall off them as they walked in the door. They would be the sullen-faced, teeth-sucking, swearing scaries walking through the door and turn into the charming sweeties the moment they saw staff. It's defense. And they knew there was something to defend themselves against. The world was a scary place for them.

I think we forget why sometimes children turn into angry adults.