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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/dec/18/bristol-refugee-murder-review-finds-police-institutional-racism-bijan-ebrahimi
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| Bristol refugee murder review accuses police of institutional racism | Bristol refugee murder review accuses police of institutional racism |
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| An independent review has found evidence of institutional racism in the way a police force and a local authority dealt with a disabled Iranian refugee who was murdered by a misguided vigilante who believed he was a paedophile. | An independent review has found evidence of institutional racism in the way a police force and a local authority dealt with a disabled Iranian refugee who was murdered by a misguided vigilante who believed he was a paedophile. |
| The review said Avon and Somerset police and Bristol city council had wrongly perceived Bijan Ebrahimi as a troublemaker rather than a victim and sided with his abusers. | The review said Avon and Somerset police and Bristol city council had wrongly perceived Bijan Ebrahimi as a troublemaker rather than a victim and sided with his abusers. |
| Lawyers for Ebrahimi’s family emphasised the significance of the finding of institutional racism against a police force – the most explicit since the publication in 1999 of Sir William Macpherson’s landmark report on the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence – and the first of its kind against a local authority. | Lawyers for Ebrahimi’s family emphasised the significance of the finding of institutional racism against a police force – the most explicit since the publication in 1999 of Sir William Macpherson’s landmark report on the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence – and the first of its kind against a local authority. |
| The review, which was ordered by the Safer Bristol executive board, said police and the council displayed a “distinct lack of understanding” of Ebrahimi’s plight and thus “unwitting prejudice against him”. | The review, which was ordered by the Safer Bristol executive board, said police and the council displayed a “distinct lack of understanding” of Ebrahimi’s plight and thus “unwitting prejudice against him”. |
| It concluded that more account should have been taken of Ebrahimi’s isolation and vulnerability and that there was “evidence of discriminatory behaviour and institutional racism on the part of Bristol city council and Avon and Somerset constabulary”. | It concluded that more account should have been taken of Ebrahimi’s isolation and vulnerability and that there was “evidence of discriminatory behaviour and institutional racism on the part of Bristol city council and Avon and Somerset constabulary”. |
| Ebrahimi, 44, was punched and kicked to death by his neighbour, Lee James, who had mistakenly thought he was a paedophile. James and another neighbour dragged Ebrahimi’s body to a green in front of his home in Brislington, doused him with white spirit and set fire to him. James was jailed for life. | Ebrahimi, 44, was punched and kicked to death by his neighbour, Lee James, who had mistakenly thought he was a paedophile. James and another neighbour dragged Ebrahimi’s body to a green in front of his home in Brislington, doused him with white spirit and set fire to him. James was jailed for life. |
| Avon and Somerset police apologised to the family. A spokesman said: “We recognise and fully accept the findings. We’d like to reiterate our sincere apologies to Mr Ebrahimi’s family, who’ve shown great courage throughout. We failed him when he needed us the most and for that we’re extremely sorry.” | Avon and Somerset police apologised to the family. A spokesman said: “We recognise and fully accept the findings. We’d like to reiterate our sincere apologies to Mr Ebrahimi’s family, who’ve shown great courage throughout. We failed him when he needed us the most and for that we’re extremely sorry.” |
| The force said it had introduced “substantial and wide-reaching changes” to how it operates. | The force said it had introduced “substantial and wide-reaching changes” to how it operates. |
| “All the issues and consequential recommendations in the Safer Bristol report were identified and addressed. We continue to do everything in our power to prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again.” | “All the issues and consequential recommendations in the Safer Bristol report were identified and addressed. We continue to do everything in our power to prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again.” |
| Two members of the force – beat manager PC Kevin Duffy and community support officer Andrew Passmore – were jailed over how they dealt with Ebrahimi after being found guilty of misconduct in a public office. They and two other constables – Leanne Winter, 38, and Helen Harris, 40, who arrested Ebrahimi – have been dismissed from the force. | Two members of the force – beat manager PC Kevin Duffy and community support officer Andrew Passmore – were jailed over how they dealt with Ebrahimi after being found guilty of misconduct in a public office. They and two other constables – Leanne Winter, 38, and Helen Harris, 40, who arrested Ebrahimi – have been dismissed from the force. |
| Asked about the accusation of institutional racism, the spokesman said: “While there isn’t any evidence that an individual officer or member of staff acted in a racist manner, or evidence to indicate any of our policies or procedures were inherently racist or discriminatory, Mr Ebrahimi was nevertheless treated differently … without objective reason.” | Asked about the accusation of institutional racism, the spokesman said: “While there isn’t any evidence that an individual officer or member of staff acted in a racist manner, or evidence to indicate any of our policies or procedures were inherently racist or discriminatory, Mr Ebrahimi was nevertheless treated differently … without objective reason.” |
| Marvin Rees, the mayor of Bristol, said: “On behalf of Bristol city council we sincerely and wholeheartedly apologise for the failings in the council’s treatment of Bijan leading up to his tragic death in July 2013. | Marvin Rees, the mayor of Bristol, said: “On behalf of Bristol city council we sincerely and wholeheartedly apologise for the failings in the council’s treatment of Bijan leading up to his tragic death in July 2013. |
| “We appreciate that no amount of lessons learned or changes in practice can possibly mitigate the impact this had on Bijan and his family.” | “We appreciate that no amount of lessons learned or changes in practice can possibly mitigate the impact this had on Bijan and his family.” |
| The multi-agency learning review, published on Monday, spells out that from 2005 until his death in 2013 Ebrahimi reported dozens of times that he had been the victim of racially motivated offending. | The multi-agency learning review, published on Monday, spells out that from 2005 until his death in 2013 Ebrahimi reported dozens of times that he had been the victim of racially motivated offending. |
| He made about 44 allegations that he had been the victim of a crime or multiple crimes to the police, the report says. These included 17 recorded allegations of assault, seven threats to kill, five of harassment, five of criminal damage, 12 of public order-related offences and one of cruelty to an animal. On one occasion he had boiling water thrown over his head and he was also the victim of an arson attack. | He made about 44 allegations that he had been the victim of a crime or multiple crimes to the police, the report says. These included 17 recorded allegations of assault, seven threats to kill, five of harassment, five of criminal damage, 12 of public order-related offences and one of cruelty to an animal. On one occasion he had boiling water thrown over his head and he was also the victim of an arson attack. |
| A relative told the review that she witnessed him being called a “Paki” and a “cockroach” and being told: “Go back to your own country.” | |
| But before his death only one person was convicted of an offence – in relation to the scalding incident. | But before his death only one person was convicted of an offence – in relation to the scalding incident. |
| The report says: “There is evidence that Mr Ebrahimi was repeatedly targeted for racist abuse and victimisation by some members of the public, that this was repeatedly reported to Avon and Somerset constabulary and Bristol city council and that representatives of both organisations repeatedly sided with his abusers. | The report says: “There is evidence that Mr Ebrahimi was repeatedly targeted for racist abuse and victimisation by some members of the public, that this was repeatedly reported to Avon and Somerset constabulary and Bristol city council and that representatives of both organisations repeatedly sided with his abusers. |
| “The more incidents that were reported, the more ingrained this pattern of responses became.” | “The more incidents that were reported, the more ingrained this pattern of responses became.” |
| Ebrahimi himself was arrested on 15 occasions following his arrival in the UK in 2001 but never charged. On one occasion, Bristol city council obtained an antisocial behaviour order against him rather than the neighbours he was complaining about. | Ebrahimi himself was arrested on 15 occasions following his arrival in the UK in 2001 but never charged. On one occasion, Bristol city council obtained an antisocial behaviour order against him rather than the neighbours he was complaining about. |
| The report says this was “misconceived and served as official confirmation of his perceived status as the primary perpetrator, rather than the primary victim”. | The report says this was “misconceived and served as official confirmation of his perceived status as the primary perpetrator, rather than the primary victim”. |
| It adds there was an incorrect prevailing view among some neighbours that Ebrahimi was a paedophile. “The authorities were aware of that view, took no steps to correct it and it is possible that the silence of agencies on this may have been taken by some as confirmation of local suspicions,” it says. | It adds there was an incorrect prevailing view among some neighbours that Ebrahimi was a paedophile. “The authorities were aware of that view, took no steps to correct it and it is possible that the silence of agencies on this may have been taken by some as confirmation of local suspicions,” it says. |
| The report continues: “On occasions, Mr Ebrahimi was treated with disrespect and even contempt by some police officers.” | The report continues: “On occasions, Mr Ebrahimi was treated with disrespect and even contempt by some police officers.” |
| It concludes: “Those victimising him were overwhelmingly of white European origin and the neighbourhoods within which he lived were predominantly inhabited by residents of white European origin … Bijan Ebrahimi was isolated. His complaints resulted in little action. | It concludes: “Those victimising him were overwhelmingly of white European origin and the neighbourhoods within which he lived were predominantly inhabited by residents of white European origin … Bijan Ebrahimi was isolated. His complaints resulted in little action. |
| “As an Iranian man living in this environment, Mr Ebrahimi was disadvantaged by the inappropriate responses by Avon and Somerset constabulary and Bristol city council to his racist victimisation. | “As an Iranian man living in this environment, Mr Ebrahimi was disadvantaged by the inappropriate responses by Avon and Somerset constabulary and Bristol city council to his racist victimisation. |
| “Representatives of those organisations displayed a distinct lack of understanding of his plight and, accordingly, unwitting prejudice against him. More account should have been taken ... of Mr Ebrahimi’s isolation and vulnerability as an Iranian man in these circumstances.” | “Representatives of those organisations displayed a distinct lack of understanding of his plight and, accordingly, unwitting prejudice against him. More account should have been taken ... of Mr Ebrahimi’s isolation and vulnerability as an Iranian man in these circumstances.” |
| The report sets out a definition of institutional racism from the Macpherson report: “The collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture, or ethnic origin. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnic people.” | The report sets out a definition of institutional racism from the Macpherson report: “The collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture, or ethnic origin. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnic people.” |
| The Ebrahimi report says: “There is therefore, based on the above definition from the Macpherson report, evidence of both discriminatory behaviour and institutional racism on the part of Bristol city council and Avon and Somerset constabulary. | The Ebrahimi report says: “There is therefore, based on the above definition from the Macpherson report, evidence of both discriminatory behaviour and institutional racism on the part of Bristol city council and Avon and Somerset constabulary. |
| “Although it is important to recognise the advances that have been achieved since 1999, there is evidence from the findings of this review that awareness of these issues may not be as consistently high among staff of Avon and Somerset constabulary and Bristol city council as they should be. It is suggested that there should be a review by both organisations of the training and awareness-raising activity in place and what additional focus might be required.” | “Although it is important to recognise the advances that have been achieved since 1999, there is evidence from the findings of this review that awareness of these issues may not be as consistently high among staff of Avon and Somerset constabulary and Bristol city council as they should be. It is suggested that there should be a review by both organisations of the training and awareness-raising activity in place and what additional focus might be required.” |
| The publication of the review marks the end of a long battle by Ebrahimi’s family to establish the truth surrounding his murder and to insist upon systemic change for the protection of other vulnerable people. | The publication of the review marks the end of a long battle by Ebrahimi’s family to establish the truth surrounding his murder and to insist upon systemic change for the protection of other vulnerable people. |
| A spokesperson for his family said: “No review can ever bring back our beloved Bijan but it is important that his voice has been heard. Bijan always said that racism must be challenged wherever it is found, including in town halls and police stations. We will not rest until improved systems are put in place to protect other vulnerable people.” | A spokesperson for his family said: “No review can ever bring back our beloved Bijan but it is important that his voice has been heard. Bijan always said that racism must be challenged wherever it is found, including in town halls and police stations. We will not rest until improved systems are put in place to protect other vulnerable people.” |
| The family’s solicitor, Tony Murphy of Bhatt Murphy, said: “Acknowledging the institutional nature of the racism at the core of this tragedy is an essential first step towards systemic change.” | The family’s solicitor, Tony Murphy of Bhatt Murphy, said: “Acknowledging the institutional nature of the racism at the core of this tragedy is an essential first step towards systemic change.” |