This board exists primarily for the use of Black Mumsnetters. Others are welcome to post but please be respectful.
This board exists primarily for the use of Black Mumsnetters. Others are welcome to post but please be respectful.
Black Mumsnetters
This So Heart Breaking...
Delectable · 15/03/2022 23:53
It seems the age of exposure to institutional racism is getting lower.
twitter.com/MartinBarrow/status/1503738983922216966 I hesitated to post this when I came across it this afternoon but it has now been reported in the media tonight. As at this afternoon none had reported it and it happened last year.
An apology isn't enough! They all must be sacked and investigated for s**ual assault. But how do we stop these sort of things from happening? It's bad enough experiencing racism as an adult but how can children be treated in this way by the authorities?? Surely we can't be a society that stands by while this sort of thing happens.
I remember Supt Robyn Williams was sacked after 36yrs in the Met because a child abuse video was sent to a Whatapp group she was in for the purpose of raising alarm and reporting the incident. She wasn't aware, didn't open it yet the Met sacked her and continue to use public funds to justify their treatment of her and cheat her out of her job! For weeks I continue to read and hear that Kurt Zuma needs to loose his job for hitting his cat but there's no uproar about the treatment of this girl. When will things change in this country???? Hackney is a very multi-ethnic area so how do they not see the humanity and youth of this child? I feel we need to set up an organisation solely to campaign for and protect the interests of black people in this country. Of course those who benefit from the status quo will find an excuse to silence the objectives; it's divisive, it's fake news, it's BLM, it's disrespectful to the RF etc but things can't continue this way surely???
I hate to talk about racism and prejudice cos it opens wounds and relives experiences one works hard to forget/erase but for this girl's sake I will!!!
FlibbertyGiblets · 16/03/2022 00:43
news.hackney.gov.uk/we-are-absolutely-focused-on-making-sure-the-legacy-of-child-qs-experience-results-in-change-hackney-council-responds-to-serious-case-review/
This is the Hackney council response.
I am so sorry, that poor child, traumatised and humiliated, it is shocking and disgusting what was done to her.
(I shall not intrude further)
Konyeshno · 16/03/2022 01:07
That poor child. She must be so traumatised. An absolutely sickening failure of safeguarding and basic humanity.
Lndnmummy · 16/03/2022 09:00
My husband and I couldn't sleep last night, talking it all over and over. It rips your heart out. This country, these people, it just all feels so hopeless. It is never going to change.
emuloc · 16/03/2022 09:04
I read about this on the main board. I cannot seem to find the energy to sum up how much this has angered me. It is just one thing after another. The fact that the teacher's knew that she was being stripped searched, and did nothing to voice objections to the fact, is beyond appalling. They all need to be sacked. That was a major safeguarding failure.
emuloc · 16/03/2022 09:11
So I just heard on BBC Morning news, That the Met has apologised, and that their actions were regrettable. So that is it then. These officers will still be out there, dealing with members of the public. No action taken against them whatsoever. And they wonder why black people are so wary of the police?
Gazelda · 16/03/2022 09:20
I am not black. So I hope it's not inappropriate for me to post here.
I am appalled at this. The poor girl. Who could blame her if she never trusts the police or her teachers again.
Who was safeguarding her? Who at the school was supporting her?
And I'm so sorry that this isn't getting more publicity. It is a shocking incident that is sadly something that people in the black community seem almost resigned to.
That may not come out how I intended. I don't mean people who are black are complacent to this. It's just that there is possibly a feeling that no one who isn't black will care.
TheWeeDonkey · 16/03/2022 09:29
I saw a thread here about this earlier. I put myself in the poor girls shoes and it just makes me feel sick that she had to go through that.
She's been let down by so many people there, how can she go back to school and go about her day to day? How can she trust her teachers, the police or anyone in authority?
Young girls are self conscious enough already how is this going to affect her self esteem and how she interacts with people?
I'm just so angry for her, it's such a gross violation. I hope she gets some form of justice or recognition for this assault against her.
Sooverthemill · 16/03/2022 09:34
It's abhorrent. I can't believe what she went through. Heartbreaking
RedWingBoots · 16/03/2022 11:15
The full report is here:
chscp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Child-Q-PUBLISHED-14-March-22.pdf
Maggiethecat · 16/03/2022 11:29
Been on the other thread too.
I started to have conversation with one dd this morning about her rights and realise that I don't even know how I'd react if stopped by police 
.
I wonder if there are any organisation/campaigns specifically for black people that raise awareness of our rights and civil liberties especially if involved with the police?
RedWingBoots · 16/03/2022 13:03
@Maggiethecat there are area specific groups.
www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/know_your_rights_z-card.pdf
Maggiethecat · 16/03/2022 13:17
@RedWingBoots - thanks, I will pass this on to dds too.
emuloc · 16/03/2022 13:34
A poster on the main board said that they have lodged a complaint with the Met. They said that they linked a newspaper article about it, with all the details. I did not know to do that, but I will now be doing the same. We have to let the Met know that this is not good enough. Heads should of rolled over this. This child was treated despicably, there should be a loud noise being made about this, now it has come to light.
frazzledasarock · 16/03/2022 13:58
I am astounded a child could be surprised next to a strip search on nothing more than a teacher thinks they smell cannabis.
If there’s anything we can do I’m a hundred percent with you.
I’m not black I am of an ethnic minority.
I’ve always told friends to ask for a solicitor if taken in for police questioning (have had experience of this being the victim but treated like a criminal).
But this! How do you even prepare for this I wouldn’t imagine in my worst nightmares this would be legally allowed.
RedWingBoots · 16/03/2022 14:27
How do you even prepare for this I wouldn’t imagine in my worst nightmares this would be legally allowed.
You can't.
You just need to realise that in 2022 your child(ren) are still not safe at school.
Purpletomato · 16/03/2022 14:31
It's appalling and the Met will just mutter their usual 'lessons will be learned from this'... but the lessons never are learnt. Poor child.
Maggiethecat · 16/03/2022 14:45
@emuloc
Yep, just lodged my complaint - used the newspaper article link.
Couldn't offer specifics asked for eg officer badge number etc but referred to the article.
RedWingBoots · 16/03/2022 15:15
Delectable · 16/03/2022 15:47
Portia Alexis is offering to fully fund a civil suit twitter.com/PortiaAntonia/status/1503828061992722434?t=cNm1OwTY6jKkRzZO6cmBdA&s=19
Derek Black says "It's a white person in the room who has the strongest voice to counteract a racist thought" www.npr.org/transcripts/651052970 on The Daily Show fb.watch/bNLQs421ys/ we all need to stand up against it. Every anti-racist needs to speak up. This girl was in the middle of her exams and in school when this happened to her.
KarmaisSweet · 16/03/2022 19:38
Just when you think things can't get any worse.....they do.
Disgraceful situation. Teachers involved need sacking. Police involved need sacking. I would be pulling my child from that school
EchoNan · 16/03/2022 19:57
I wept to read this. Of all the things I have ever seen and heard, this has so affected me. I will not rest.
I could not even bear to read the thread on the main board. I could not trust myself to speak on there today. But I will speak up elsewhere and keep shouting.
The humiliation of this young woman has filled me with so much anger and frustration. An innocent child treated so.
Lord, does this hatred of us and our children never end? The cess pit of the mindsets of the people who did this, and those who did not speak up to stop it.
Shame, shame on them.
GalactatingGoddess · 16/03/2022 20:00
It is disgusting, and my mind is not really comprehending that not one staff member at school stopped to think, hang on, is this right?
All because of an alleged cannabis smell? Wtf.
It surprises me but also doesn't, it's just one in a long list of racist one thing for them/another for us incidents. But it's not racist just regrettable 💁🏾♀️
Toomanyradishes · 16/03/2022 20:21
For those of you with children, it may be worth directing them to www.release.org.uk/law/stop-and-search and also their app developed for young people (i think directed primarily at people in london)
It contains some useful info about your rights, not that I expect the police to stick to them its a starting point though for shitty conversations that you shouldnt have to have with children but still have to
EchoNan · 16/03/2022 20:37
Toomanyradishes Thanks for the link.
TW
Re: Strip Search of Children and PACE Code C
There was case law in 2015, re intimate search of a 14 year old child .(Ostensibly on the grounds of preventing the child hiding items which might cause them to self harm ) I don't know the heritage of the child involved at that time, and it was not discussed. Merseyside Police involved here.
yjlc.uk/resources/legal-updates/strip-search-children-and-pace-code-c
The judgment also recognises [at paragraph 7] the special position of children under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and highlights that “children in custody are vulnerable and special care is required to protect their interests and well being” [paragraph 7], further approving R (HC) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2013] EWHC 982 (Admin).
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