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| Mark Duggan inquest: questions must be answered before police and community relations can heal | Mark Duggan inquest: questions must be answered before police and community relations can heal |
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| The Duggan inquest, which culminated today in a verdict of lawful killing, will have been some solace to a Metropolitan police force after a string of public scandals. Yet there are aspects of this verdict that are perplexing and seemingly contradictory to those of who us who have carefully followed the proceedings over recent months, and in many ways raise more questions than answers. | |
| Serious concerns – many of them still unaddressed – were raised about the events leading up to those fateful few moments. Why, for instance, was the officer who fired the fatal shot the only witness who says he saw Mark Duggan holding a gun? What led the jury to conclude that the police could and should have gathered more intelligence before stopping the car Duggan was travelling in? Why was that car – a crucial piece of evidence – moved by police officers in the hours after the shooting? Why was there no officer in charge of the crime scene for more than 48 hours? | Serious concerns – many of them still unaddressed – were raised about the events leading up to those fateful few moments. Why, for instance, was the officer who fired the fatal shot the only witness who says he saw Mark Duggan holding a gun? What led the jury to conclude that the police could and should have gathered more intelligence before stopping the car Duggan was travelling in? Why was that car – a crucial piece of evidence – moved by police officers in the hours after the shooting? Why was there no officer in charge of the crime scene for more than 48 hours? |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) inquiry must now attempt to answer these fundamental questions. Until they are adequately answered, confusion, conjecture and suspicion will continue to surround the events of that August evening. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) inquiry must now attempt to answer these fundamental questions. Until they are adequately answered, confusion, conjecture and suspicion will continue to surround the events of that August evening. |
| It remains to be seen whether the IPCC will be able to answer these questions. This process has revealed from start to finish a series of deep flaws in the efficiency and competency of the IPCC, and it is right that Theresa May has pledged to reform it. It is imperative that we have an independent regulatory body that is strong enough to sufficiently hold the police to account. Whether the IPCC is currently that organisation is questionable, at best. | |
| In April 2005 I was stopped by the police. It was not the first time. As a young black man being stopped on the street becomes part of everyday life, but this time was by far the most unnerving. I was on my way home from a constituency event with my older brother – a magistrate – in his Audi, when we suddenly noticed an ominous grey police van right on our tail. Seconds later, a marked police car forced its way alongside. | In April 2005 I was stopped by the police. It was not the first time. As a young black man being stopped on the street becomes part of everyday life, but this time was by far the most unnerving. I was on my way home from a constituency event with my older brother – a magistrate – in his Audi, when we suddenly noticed an ominous grey police van right on our tail. Seconds later, a marked police car forced its way alongside. |
| We pulled over and were immediately surrounded by heavily armed Operation Trident officers, shouting at us not to move and to raise our hands. Hearts pounding and minds racing, we did as we were told. I quickly managed to convince them that I was the local MP. Immediately their manner changed. They apologised, gave a mumbled explanation about mistaken identity, and promptly left. For them, I expect the incident was quickly forgotten and probably laughed off. But I was left with the nagging thought that it would only have taken one wrong movement – one inadvertent raise of the arm – and there is a chance I would not be here today. | |
| This incident is symptomatic of the damage and distrust that can be caused in communities when a small minority – and it is a minority – of police officers are seen to have acted excessively, incorrectly or unfairly. Among ethnic minority communities, the continual suspicion, stopping and searching that they are frequently subjected to makes community policing very difficult. This problem has long been recognised. | This incident is symptomatic of the damage and distrust that can be caused in communities when a small minority – and it is a minority – of police officers are seen to have acted excessively, incorrectly or unfairly. Among ethnic minority communities, the continual suspicion, stopping and searching that they are frequently subjected to makes community policing very difficult. This problem has long been recognised. |
| But, more worryingly, these concerns are no longer limited to ethnic minority groups or inner-city communities. Three of the most recent high-profile victims of police injustice were white: Jean Charles de Menezes, Ian Tomlinson, and, in very different circumstances, Andrew Mitchell. Concerns are no longer being raised just by community leaders and youth workers, but by senior Conservative MPs and celebrity phone-hacking victims. It is fast becoming clear that the distrust in the police that has long existed among urban ethnic minority communities is beginning to spread to other parts of society. | But, more worryingly, these concerns are no longer limited to ethnic minority groups or inner-city communities. Three of the most recent high-profile victims of police injustice were white: Jean Charles de Menezes, Ian Tomlinson, and, in very different circumstances, Andrew Mitchell. Concerns are no longer being raised just by community leaders and youth workers, but by senior Conservative MPs and celebrity phone-hacking victims. It is fast becoming clear that the distrust in the police that has long existed among urban ethnic minority communities is beginning to spread to other parts of society. |
| The Duggan inquest, which culminated yesterday in a verdict of lawful killing, will have been some solace to a Metropolitan Police force after a string of public scandals. Yet its deliberations uncovered a series of inaccuracies, queries and conflicting accounts that in many ways raised more questions than answers.there are aspects of this verdict that are somewhat perplexing and seemingly contradictory to those of who us who have carefully followed the proceedings over the last few months,. A number of serious questions remain unanswered. and in many ways raise more questions than answers. | |
| Serious concerns – many of them still unaddressed – were raised about the events leading up to those fateful few moments. Why, for example, was the officer who fired the fatal shot the only witness who says he saw Mark Duggan holding a gun? What led the jury to conclude that the police could have and should have gathered more intelligence before stopping the car Duggan was travelling in? Why was that car – a crucial piece of evidence – moved by police officers in the hours after the shooting? Why was there no officer in charge of the crime scene for more than 48 hours? | |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) inquiry must now attempt to answer these fundamental questions. Until they are adequately answered, confusion, conjecture and suspicion and will continue to surround the events of that August evening. | |
| It remains to be seen whether the IPCC will be able to answer these questions. This process has revealed from start to finish a serious of deep flaws in the efficiency and competency of the IPCC, and it is right that Theresa May has pledged to reform it. It is imperative that we have an independent regulatory body that is strong enough to sufficiently hold the police to account. Whether the IPCC is currently that organisation is questionable at best. | |
| Whatever is said in the coming days, this process that led to this inquest conclusion should be respected. This was the finding of a full, 10-person jury, which listened to several months of evidence, testimonies and expert accounts, before spending nearly a week deliberating on its decision. The process was carried out in public and widely reported in the media, showing that – at the very least – police officers were under public scrutiny, as they should be when there are allegations of deep wrongdoing. | Whatever is said in the coming days, this process that led to this inquest conclusion should be respected. This was the finding of a full, 10-person jury, which listened to several months of evidence, testimonies and expert accounts, before spending nearly a week deliberating on its decision. The process was carried out in public and widely reported in the media, showing that – at the very least – police officers were under public scrutiny, as they should be when there are allegations of deep wrongdoing. |
| Policing in any democracy is most effective when it operates firmly on the basis of consent, legitimacy and trust. The Duggan family's sorrow and anger was palpable in court and those feelings will be reflected in the broader community. The frustration at what is perceived as a lack of justice will be shared by a closeknit local community that has previously endured suffering following the killings of Cynthia Jarrett, Roger Sylvester and Joy Gardner at the hands of the police. The tension in Tottenham that will follow this verdict must be considered in that context. | |
| Further clarification on the events surrounding Mark Duggan's shooting is essential to enable the relationship between the community and the police to move forward. Public trust in the police has been shown to be fragile, and it will take time to rebuild following another setback. Yet it is imperative that it is rebuilt. That work starts anew today. | Further clarification on the events surrounding Mark Duggan's shooting is essential to enable the relationship between the community and the police to move forward. Public trust in the police has been shown to be fragile, and it will take time to rebuild following another setback. Yet it is imperative that it is rebuilt. That work starts anew today. |
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