Police cleared of 'racist' arrest

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/dorset/6544405.stm

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An arrest in which a policeman used CS spray on a black driver was not racially motivated, an inquiry ruled.

Olufemi Ijebuode, 38, made an official complaint after he was stopped by the officer in Bournemouth, Dorset, and sprayed at close range in April 2005.

Mr Ijebuode, who was driving below the speed limit, said the officer was aggressive and racially abused him.

But an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation by Kent Police has cleared the Dorset force.

The IPCC said Mr Ijebuode's account of the incident was not backed up by independent witnesses.

IPCC Commissioner Ian Bynoe said: "The IPCC takes allegations of racism by police officers very seriously and ensured that all of Mr Ijebuode's complaints were thoroughly investigated.

Racism, in any form, is not and will not be tolerated Dorset Police

"There were a number of independent witnesses to Mr Ijebuode's arrest and the significant majority did not corroborate his account of what happened.

"In addition, the arresting traffic officer who stopped him recorded the whole incident on the in-car video camera and submitted this evidence to the inquiry."

The investigation examined the records of the arresting officer.

They did not show any bias by the officer towards stopping people from a visibly non-white background, the IPCC said.

Mr Ijebuode was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug and assaulting police.

'Huge pressure'

The case against Mr Ijebuode was later dismissed when no evidence was offered.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: "Dorset Police is always striving to improve its service to the public still further and the force takes any allegations of racism very seriously.

"Racism, in any form, is not and will not be tolerated."

Clive Chamberlain, Dorset Police Federation chairman, said the officer involved had been "subjected to a huge amount of pressure".

He added: "Racism in any form will not be tolerated, but it is equally unacceptable when those who are lawfully arrested seek to hide behind it and look to it as an automatic defence."