Met apologise for 'sexist, derogatory' language when searching woman

[ArabellaScott]

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jan/24/met-apologises-to-academic-for-sexist-derogatory-language

'The Metropolitan police have apologised and paid compensation to an academic for “sexist, derogatory and unacceptable language” used by officers about her when she was strip-searched.'

'Duff was arrested on 5 May 2013 on suspicion of obstructing and assaulting police after trying to hand a legal advice card to a 15-year-old caught in a stop-and-search sweep in Hackney – allegations she was later cleared of in court. '

Is anyone going to do something about the police, at all?

Im not suggesting the plice are at fault for not buying scanners, I understand they dont set their own budget.

Im not understanding why there appear to be no conversations driven by the police force on more humane ways to tackle vulnerable people other than stripping them down.

If ypu actually care abput the wellbeing of these people, why arent you all shouting up for better technological improvements in this area?

You are wrong about the scanners by the way, the use of AI is making great strides forward in this area. So you could train it to also spot lighters, mobile phones, plastic toy guns, etc etc.

Like I said too much justification on the grounds of, its allways done this way so this is the way we do it. Stuck in your ways, unwilling to embrace change etc etc

You dont give me any confidence in the police and your unwillingness to admit that this was the wrong way to tackle the situation and that there are alternatives that could be right expain the mentality of the force very well

No further action was taken in relation to PS B
PS B being the sergeant who did not ensure adequate safeguarding to a suspect known to self harm.

The matter was dealt with at a misconduct meeting. DO E received a verbal warning which will remain for six months.
DO E is the detention officer who failed to check the suspect properly and failed to get him medical treatment.

I know personally of sergeants that have been suspended over incidents of harm happening to prisoners in their cells in custody - although of course it will be anecdotal.

You said loads of officers have lost their jobs/gone to jail for failing to order strip search, not "I've heard of some officers who were suspended while there was an investigation".

In the case you linked to, the sergeant did not do his job properly and the consequences were dreadful. But far from being fired or jailed, nothing happened. Not even a verbal warning that would remain with him for a mere six months.

The custody sergeant in Dr Duff's case did not order the violent strip search out of concern for her. He didn't order it because he was afraid for his career. He did it to show her that "resistance is futile". We know that because there is police CCTV footage.

I'll have another look on google - but as I say, I'm not the best at doing it.

Go ahead, you won't find any evidence for loads of officers being fired or brought to court for failing to conduct a strip search. You will find evidence of the misogynistic, racist, violent, abusive fucks employed by the police in this country.

Thank you @Felix125, you have demonstrated what institutionalised looks like in the police force.

It's always useful to check you thinking against a real life example, it gets rid of the nagging doubts.

You have given me lots to think about.

@Toomanyradishes

Im not suggesting the plice are at fault for not buying scanners, I understand they dont set their own budget.

Im not understanding why there appear to be no conversations driven by the police force on more humane ways to tackle vulnerable people other than stripping them down.

If ypu actually care abput the wellbeing of these people, why arent you all shouting up for better technological improvements in this area?

You are wrong about the scanners by the way, the use of AI is making great strides forward in this area. So you could train it to also spot lighters, mobile phones, plastic toy guns, etc etc.

Like I said too much justification on the grounds of, its allways done this way so this is the way we do it. Stuck in your ways, unwilling to embrace change etc etc

You dont give me any confidence in the police and your unwillingness to admit that this was the wrong way to tackle the situation and that there are alternatives that could be right expain the mentality of the force very well

I'm all for technology and AI - it will save me a load of work and having to do such searches.

But when things go wrong - do we just blame the scanning machine?

As i say, the scanners at the ports can't even pick up human beings in the back of a trailer, so i don't hold too much faith in them to be honest. They also won't spot things in body cavities unless you are using x-rays - which we can't as its exposing people to radiation.

@TooBigForMyBoots

No further action was taken in relation to PS B PS B being the sergeant who did not ensure adequate safeguarding to a suspect known to self harm.

The matter was dealt with at a misconduct meeting. DO E received a verbal warning which will remain for six months.
DO E is the detention officer who failed to check the suspect properly and failed to get him medical treatment.

I know personally of sergeants that have been suspended over incidents of harm happening to prisoners in their cells in custody - although of course it will be anecdotal.

You said loads of officers have lost their jobs/gone to jail for failing to order strip search, not "I've heard of some officers who were suspended while there was an investigation".

In the case you linked to, the sergeant did not do his job properly and the consequences were dreadful. But far from being fired or jailed, nothing happened. Not even a verbal warning that would remain with him for a mere six months.

The custody sergeant in Dr Duff's case did not order the violent strip search out of concern for her. He didn't order it because he was afraid for his career. He did it to show her that "resistance is futile". We know that because there is police CCTV footage.

So no strip search was ordered - which you would be happy with.

Would you have wanted the custody sergeant and the DO sacked for this?

This is just the first example i found - give me chance to have a look through google - although not every incident may be on the internet.

Rather telling that the first example you found @Felix125, was a dreadful case where the custody sergeant faced zero repercussions for not ordering a strip search despite having information that the suspect was a suicide/self harm risk.🤦‍♀️

They will have been suspended from duty whilst the investigation went on.

And yes - i agree with you. A strip search should have been done, but I guess you would suggest that it should not as its degrading, embarrassing and a sexual assault to do so.

So what if Dr Duff had a similar marker on her record which she was not telling anyone about - or we could not check as she wasn't disclosing her details? Do we just take a chance that she didn't have anything on her?

www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/18901669.bridgwater-custody-sergeant-gareth-starr-guilty-misconduct/

www.policeconduct.gov.uk/news/ipcc-submits-file-evidence-crown-prosecution-service-thomas-orchard-case

www.policeconduct.gov.uk/news/criminal-investigation-under-way-death-terry-smith-following-his-detention-police-surrey

www.policeconduct.gov.uk/news/ipcc-outlines-scope-investigation-death-leon-briggs

www.policeconduct.gov.uk/recommendations/man-self-harms-twice-custody-west-midlands-police-july-2017

www.policeconduct.gov.uk/recommendations/self-harming-incident-detention-essex-police-august-2017

www.policeconduct.gov.uk/recommendations/adverse-incident-custody-south-wales-police-november-2016

Thomas Orchard was killed in police custody by restraining techniques. It was an appalling case that ended with the Police service being fined £250,000. No officer was suspended despite the IOPC requesting that six officers be suspended.

Terry Smith was killed in police custody by restraining techniques. No officers faced charges.

Leon Briggs, killed in police custody by restraining techniques. At his inquest his mother, Margaret Briggs said
Over our long fight for the truth there has been no remorse shown by the police – in fact they have tried to disrupt the investigation at every turn, determined to cover their own backs. To this day, those police officers still have their jobs and livelihoods and no one has been punished for Leon’s death. There has been no accountability or justice. The CPS must now reconsider bringing prosecutions.

Thank you for these examples @Felix125, showing that members of the public can actually be killed due to the care they receive in custody and the police officers involved still keep their job.

The sergeant in Dr Duff's case didn't order the strip search for her safety. He didn't order it because he feared for his job. He did it to show her that "resistance is futile". Looking at the links you provided @felix125, she should be grateful she wasn't killed.

These were all investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

My point being that custody sergeants & staff will be held accountable and investigated.

Hence why custody staff do not want to be put through all of this.

I'm sure Dr Duff did not want to be put through a violent sexual assault and humiliation. Or the lengthy investigation that followed. Neither she, nor the officers present would have had to go through that if the custody sergeant had not ordered the strip search.

My point being that custody sergeants & staff will be held accountable and investigated.

Well the point you have made @felix125 is that officers' interventions can cause death and serious injury to people in custody. And when they do, a lengthy, agonising to the family, investigation will occur but no officer will be held accountable.

Really not sure what Felix wants us to get from a load of articles about police officers killing people.

@Mumoftwoinprimary

Really not sure what Felix wants us to get from a load of articles about police officers killing people.

Gaslighting fun, perhaps?

As i said before:

These were all investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. This is an independent body from the police.

My point being that custody sergeants & staff will be held accountable and investigated.

Hence why custody staff do not want to be put through all of this.

If you don't think she required a search then fine - but you have to accept that you are taking a chance that nothing untoward will happen to her.

My point being that custody sergeants & staff will be held accountable and investigated.

No officer was held accountable for the deaths you linked to, just as no officer was held accountable for Dr Duff's disgusting treatment. So you have failed @Felix125.

For those that don’t want to read about all the ways the police managed to kill people and get away with it a summary is as follows:-

1. Officer was abusive to a man and completely neglectful including laughing when he hit his head and not checking on him when he remained motionless. Man died. Officer resigned.

1. The awful case of Thomas Orchard. Police officers suffocated him. Originally charged with manslaughter but got off. No sanctions in work as the IOPC fucked it up basically and the police officers got good lawyers.

3 Terry Smith case. Found to be killed by excessive restraint. Said “I can’t breathe” 13 times in total although none of the officer present reported it in their notebooks. An oversight apparently. No action taken - apparently the officers had shown him “compassionate care” throughout. Presumably excluding the bit where he said he couldn’t breathe.

1. Leon Briggs case. Excessive “weight” used. Neglect by police contributed to his death. Doubts about the credibility of the officers involved due to their statements. Race may have been a factor in his treatment. After 8 years of fighting by his family the CPS is now reopening the case but so far no officers have even been reprimanded.

And I’m too depressed to even look into the others.

Basic summary so far - police kill people and get away with it.

These were all investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. This is an independent body from the police.

Any court cases that have concluded that there is no case to answer - but during the time the officers are under investigation.

Its just like Dr Duffs court case concluding that she was 'no guilty' - but your happy to support that adjudication.

Like I said before - i don't mind not having to strip search anyone - less work for me to be honest.

We'll just trust AI in future, then when something goes wrong we can blame the AI machine.

Just put them in a cell and hope for the best!

incredible that you think that these examples make your case!

'Basic summary so far - police kill people and get away with it.'

Don't they just. If she's a prostitute, and you dispose of her body in such a way as to make it impossible not ascertain precisely how she died, so much the better . . .

www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/twisted-policeman-who-dismembered-young-17443941.amp

impossible to ascertain

Like I said before - i don't mind not having to strip search anyone - less work for me to be honest.

Strip search is a huge power and responsibility. Perhaps it should be out of custody sergeants' hands altogether @felix125.🤔

Are we sure that Felix is a police officer? Could he be someone from the movement to defund the police pretending?

He’s spent all this time telling us that there is no evidence that the police officers lied in the Dr Duff case. Why would he then highlight the case of Leon Briggs - where - after 8 years of fighting by the family to get the truth - the coroner said that the police statements lacked credibility.

[quote LetHimHaveIt]'Basic summary so far - police kill people and get away with it.'

Don't they just. If she's a prostitute, and you dispose of her body in such a way as to make it impossible not ascertain precisely how she died, so much the better . . .

www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/twisted-policeman-who-dismembered-young-17443941.amp[/quote]
He was found not guilty at court by a jury trial.
The police tried to prosecute him, but the court found him not guilty.

Are you blaming the police or the courts for the miscarriage of justice here?