Does anybody think that the police in U.K. are racists and racially profile people?

Answer 1

The British police are notoriously racist - they are almost as bad as police in America when it comes to harassing Blacks.

Answer 2

That's a rather sweeping statement. Like any group of people there will be good and bad apples. Personally I don't think that the police as an organisation are racist, though I would imagine that it would have some people with those views in it. But if they acted on them then they'd be in contravention of police policy. The police are there to service *everyone*.

Regarding racial profiling, I don't think I have a big issue with that *in theory*. And I don't think that the police actually do it, do they?

For example, at the moment in the UK there is a perceived threat, and targeting peolpe that fit the description of most people who are currently engaging in terror activities seems to me to be sensible. It's not saying "all Muslims are terrorists" but it is acknowleding that the threat at the moment to UK security seems to be from a specific group. In the 70s and 80s it was the IRA and so I (as a person of Irish origin) would probably have been in profile. I wouldn't have liked it, but I can understand why.

Answer 3

Is it wrong to admit that most crimes of a particular type are committed mainly by people from a particular group?
Does this mean insurance companies are wrong to view youger drivers with caution, or that it is wrong to only consider men during cases of rape?
What really matters is how the police deal with individuals, whilst trying to ascertain involvement.
I am not white and feel that the police have had a pretty rough ride, since the killing of Stephen Lawrence. Don't get me wrong, I feel racism played its part in the disastrous events following this tragic murder, but to view all police officers with this kind of prejudice, is no better than to view all black people as muggers.
How we deal with each other on an individual level is the first and most important point. If as individuals we said no to racism, be it at work or in the streets, then sweeping statements about groups, such as black people or the police, would find little purchase in our society.
The police are not racist, even if some of their number may be.
Do you see..?

Answer 4

I have been asking and answering questions this last few days (in view of the present mood) and I have come to the conclusion, when backed into a corner ,we are all racist by simply supporting our own race or creed. Which when you think about it is such a natural thing to do... So who the hell is is 100% P.C. in this mixed up world. The situation will never change, we all like to live in our little clicks and just tolerate each other until the next issue.

Answer 5

That is a question which cannot be answered. Your question is stereotypical and too broad. By 'Police' are you referring to all Police? In which case, the answer is no, they are not. As in every profession, there may be a small minority who let their colleagues down, this should not reflect on the majority. Police officers receive a high level of training, and are recruited from many different walks of life, racial backgrounds and religions.

Answer 6

Is it racist to suspect more black youths as that is the category that the highest proportion of reported crime in the south of england comes from.

If you report your handbag snatched by a black youth but the police went and interviewed just white youths or just Chinese youths, would you think they were carrying out their investigation properly?

No the police are not more racist, Unfortunately the black community in particular know that they only need to play the race card to halt an investigation.

You have an association of black police officers but there would be hell on if you had an association of white police officers. Who is more racist then?

Answer 7

You get racisit people everywhere, in every country, in every walk of life. Yes, there will be police officer who are also racist - and while this is unacceptable, its also unavoidable in any society as obviously they're not going to stand up midway through thier interview for the force and say they are racist! I would hasten to add though that in no way does this mean the force as a whole is racist - the large majority of officers will be normal people like you or I who uphold the law to the best of their abilit regardless of race etc. You cant say "the police" are racist, just like you cant say that "whites" are racist or "blacks" are racist or "asians" are racist. There is simply no place for a generalisation like that.

Answer 8

i live in london and get out and about
most days,if u needed a policeman/women
they are rarely seen on the street walking
along,you either hear the distant sirens of the
vehicles they drive or they go past in them
so fast if u blink you would miss it
how they are constantly accused of
picking on ethnic minorites daily
is beyond me because u simply
do not see them about stopping
or searching anyone and what does
racial profiling mean,cameras and
mass surveillance is watching everybody
especially motoring and roads in the uk
mostly the punishment is a money fine
and believe me that is not a selective
law it seeks and fines everybody no matter
what or who they are.if gangs of teenage lads
are hanging about doing nothing in particular
the police will stop and talk or search them if neccesary
because that is the nature of their work,i would be stopped
and searched by police if it was getting dark outside
and there were a few of us but its to do with age and not race
mostly the community where i live is asian(pakistan/bangladesh)
therefore mostly its asian lads in groups hanging out
together and they would be more prevelant because the area is largely asian so the police would seem tobe stopping asians more,when it was mostly a white area police would be seen stopping white youth it is common sense that it works out like this
my idea of racist or corrupt police are ones that hit u and call u offensive names or plant evidence on you not because u are a nuisance to them but because they dislike u for 1 reason or another for no good reason,police are not there to be liked but to be wary of if u are a law breaker,and one sure way to get peoples backs up is to be stopped and searched its invasive and embarrasing but the police have reason for doing it and are not doingit for fun(in my opinion)and this causes the anomosity between public and police,i used to keep my mouth shut and answer when asked a question i let them search me and off i went my reactions were yes,no,dont know,ok,goodbye and that was that.if u struggle and raise your voice the police will search even further because to them its a sign u have more to hide than u are letting on about and your loud reaction is because they are near to discovering something that will lead them to making a arrest of you.

Answer 9

Cops in all parts of the world tend to do racial profiling. Unfortunately, their usually suspects are darker people and those with Arabic names.

Answer 10

I think we should be proud of our police - they do one hell of a job i am sure you will find a very small amount of racists in the force but they are in the minority