This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/7918911.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
PCSOs 'faced racism and violence' | PCSOs 'faced racism and violence' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Staff at a police station in central London have encountered violence and racist bullying, an internal Scotland Yard investigation has found. | Staff at a police station in central London have encountered violence and racist bullying, an internal Scotland Yard investigation has found. |
Many police community support officers (PCSOs) in Belgravia were afraid to speak out and some were assaulted or threatened by colleagues, it added. | |
The review was submitted to an employment tribunal brought by a PCSO. | The review was submitted to an employment tribunal brought by a PCSO. |
He said there was an "apartheid" system at the station with separate vans used to transport black and white officers. | |
Asad Saeed claims senior Metropolitan Police officers at Belgravia station "turned a blind eye to racism". | Asad Saeed claims senior Metropolitan Police officers at Belgravia station "turned a blind eye to racism". |
He was dismissed after allegedly assaulting a homeless man at a fast-food restaurant near Victoria station in central London, tribunal documents stated. | |
'Humiliating and disturbing' | 'Humiliating and disturbing' |
The report said there was "no doubting the credibility and consistency" of employees' accounts. | |
Mr Saeed's claims centre on two colleagues who have since resigned from the force, who faced charges of gross misconduct. | |
It felt as though sneezing was an offence if you were not white Peter CampbellPCSO, Metropolitan Police | |
"It was obvious that there was an established racial divide," he added, saying that this became apparent "a week or so" after he joined the Metropolitan Police as a PCSO in January 2007. | "It was obvious that there was an established racial divide," he added, saying that this became apparent "a week or so" after he joined the Metropolitan Police as a PCSO in January 2007. |
One colleague who was a van driver would refuse to pick up PCSOs who were not white, Mr Saeed alleged. | |
"At first I thought he was just anti-social but very soon I started to think it may have something to do with me being the only Asian Muslim on the team," he said. | "At first I thought he was just anti-social but very soon I started to think it may have something to do with me being the only Asian Muslim on the team," he said. |
"I found it humiliating and disturbing whenever I called him on the radio and he would not answer. | "I found it humiliating and disturbing whenever I called him on the radio and he would not answer. |
"The airwaves were public as well, so everyone knew it was going on." | "The airwaves were public as well, so everyone knew it was going on." |
'Treated like dogs' | |
A second PCSO, Peter Campbell, said he also witnessed racism and inappropriate behaviour at Belgravia police station. | |
"It felt as though sneezing was an offence if you were not white," he said. | |
He described a stormy evening in 2007 when non-white PCSOs were told to form a cordon, while white colleagues were inside, watching TV. | |
Mr Saeed became a PCSO for the Metropolitan Police at Belgravia in 2007"We were treated like dogs that night," Mr Campbell said. | |
The force asked Sgt Sarah Cashman to look into complaints about unacceptable behaviour, which her report has stated took place over "a prolonged period of time". | The force asked Sgt Sarah Cashman to look into complaints about unacceptable behaviour, which her report has stated took place over "a prolonged period of time". |
Among claims of racist language were an allegation that one officer said: "Stick by me and we will bring down all the lazy blacks, one by one." | Among claims of racist language were an allegation that one officer said: "Stick by me and we will bring down all the lazy blacks, one by one." |
Documents given to the tribunal also include allegations of homophobic abuse and intimidation among staff. | |
Asked about Mr Saeed's allegations last week, the force's new commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, described them as "appalling", but said it was not clear when they began. | Asked about Mr Saeed's allegations last week, the force's new commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, described them as "appalling", but said it was not clear when they began. |
"If it did take place it is appalling, and if it was known about, I want to know what was done about it." | "If it did take place it is appalling, and if it was known about, I want to know what was done about it." |