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Senior Met police officer rebuts claims over drowning of Jack Susianta Senior Met police officer rebuts claims over drowning of Jack Susianta
(about 5 hours later)
The Metropolitan police has vigorously defended itself against accusations that officers refused to try and save a teenager who was drowning in a river in east London, saying such media coverage was “disappointing and hard to understand”.The Metropolitan police has vigorously defended itself against accusations that officers refused to try and save a teenager who was drowning in a river in east London, saying such media coverage was “disappointing and hard to understand”.
In an unusual and detailed rebuttal, a senior Met officer said officers threw ropes and lifebuoys to Jack Susianta, 17, and that one then risked his own life by entering the water to try and save the teenager.In an unusual and detailed rebuttal, a senior Met officer said officers threw ropes and lifebuoys to Jack Susianta, 17, and that one then risked his own life by entering the water to try and save the teenager.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is to investigate the incident, which reportedly began after Susianta smashed a window at his home in Clapton, east London, to flee police officers who had called on a welfare visit, at the request of his parents.The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is to investigate the incident, which reportedly began after Susianta smashed a window at his home in Clapton, east London, to flee police officers who had called on a welfare visit, at the request of his parents.
The teenager, who fled his home wearing a T-shirt, shorts and socks, was seen a short time later on Hackney Marshes but ran away again, ending up in the Lee Navigation, a canalised stretch of the river Lea. Witnesses said he jumped into the canal from a bridge on Lea Bridge Road.The teenager, who fled his home wearing a T-shirt, shorts and socks, was seen a short time later on Hackney Marshes but ran away again, ending up in the Lee Navigation, a canalised stretch of the river Lea. Witnesses said he jumped into the canal from a bridge on Lea Bridge Road.
A number of people saw Susianta drown, with some saying officers at the scene refused to enter the water and stopped bystanders trying to do so.A number of people saw Susianta drown, with some saying officers at the scene refused to enter the water and stopped bystanders trying to do so.
The front page of Friday’s Mirror carried the headline “Police refuse to rescue drowning boy”. The newspaper quoted one witness, 42-year-old Fiona Okonkwo, as saying: “The police officers refused to jump in after him and said they can’t do it. I was going to jump in but they stopped me. The police told us there were weeds underneath the water, that it was too dangerous and they could get dragged down.”The front page of Friday’s Mirror carried the headline “Police refuse to rescue drowning boy”. The newspaper quoted one witness, 42-year-old Fiona Okonkwo, as saying: “The police officers refused to jump in after him and said they can’t do it. I was going to jump in but they stopped me. The police told us there were weeds underneath the water, that it was too dangerous and they could get dragged down.”
Lucy D’Orsi, the Met’s commander for east London, in a statement released by the force, said media coverage of the tragedy did not reflect fairly what had happened. “A proper explanation of the circumstances surrounding the incident is required for everyone and I don’t think that has been reflected in the way it has been presented so far in the media,” she said.Lucy D’Orsi, the Met’s commander for east London, in a statement released by the force, said media coverage of the tragedy did not reflect fairly what had happened. “A proper explanation of the circumstances surrounding the incident is required for everyone and I don’t think that has been reflected in the way it has been presented so far in the media,” she said.
Earlier, police had said an officer did enter the water, but it was not known if this happened before or after Susianta disappeared beneath the surface.Earlier, police had said an officer did enter the water, but it was not known if this happened before or after Susianta disappeared beneath the surface.
Susianta was an A-level student at nearby Mossborne Academy in Hackney. His mother, Anna, is an education adviser to Cambridgeshire county council and was formerly headteacher at Rushmore primary school in Clapton. His father, Ketut, is originally from Bali. He had previously disappeared from home on Tuesday, but had been found.Susianta was an A-level student at nearby Mossborne Academy in Hackney. His mother, Anna, is an education adviser to Cambridgeshire county council and was formerly headteacher at Rushmore primary school in Clapton. His father, Ketut, is originally from Bali. He had previously disappeared from home on Tuesday, but had been found.
Friends paid tribute to Susianta after the incident. Ned O’Regan told the BBC: “He was a hard-working boy and he achieved really highly. I can’t comprehend that this has happened. He was just a normal boy, he had such high hopes. He was so passionate about what he did and said, and it’s so sad.”Friends paid tribute to Susianta after the incident. Ned O’Regan told the BBC: “He was a hard-working boy and he achieved really highly. I can’t comprehend that this has happened. He was just a normal boy, he had such high hopes. He was so passionate about what he did and said, and it’s so sad.”
D’Orsi’s statement said the Met had limited scope for comment before the IPCC’s findings, but argued strongly that some of the coverage so far had been unfair.D’Orsi’s statement said the Met had limited scope for comment before the IPCC’s findings, but argued strongly that some of the coverage so far had been unfair.
Her statement, posted to the force’s Facebook page, said: “Today’s headlines concerning the tragic story of Jack Susianta who drowned in the River Lea offers a clear picture of a complex situation. Or does it?”Her statement, posted to the force’s Facebook page, said: “Today’s headlines concerning the tragic story of Jack Susianta who drowned in the River Lea offers a clear picture of a complex situation. Or does it?”
It went on: “Our thoughts are with Jack’s family – it is hard to comprehend the pain they must be feeling after losing a loved one so young. It’s also a traumatic event for the people on the river bank who witnessed the events unfold and the police officers involved in the incident.”It went on: “Our thoughts are with Jack’s family – it is hard to comprehend the pain they must be feeling after losing a loved one so young. It’s also a traumatic event for the people on the river bank who witnessed the events unfold and the police officers involved in the incident.”
D’Orsi singled out the Daily Mirror for particular criticism for its headline. “No quotation marks, nothing to reflect our statement last night that officers first tried to use a life aid and throw lines to him before an officer, who then needed assistance himself, entered dangerous water to try and save Jack’s life. Met divers also entered the water in a rescue operation to try and save Jack. I saw no mention of this.”D’Orsi singled out the Daily Mirror for particular criticism for its headline. “No quotation marks, nothing to reflect our statement last night that officers first tried to use a life aid and throw lines to him before an officer, who then needed assistance himself, entered dangerous water to try and save Jack’s life. Met divers also entered the water in a rescue operation to try and save Jack. I saw no mention of this.”
The statement said that too often the media reached definitive conclusions in such cases very quickly, and ended: “Our officers deserve a fair and independent investigation into how an incident such as this has unfolded but most importantly so do Jack’s family who are dealing with grief which most of us hope never to have to experience. A proper explanation of the circumstances surrounding the incident is required for everyone and I don’t think that has been reflected in the way it has been presented so far in the media.”The statement said that too often the media reached definitive conclusions in such cases very quickly, and ended: “Our officers deserve a fair and independent investigation into how an incident such as this has unfolded but most importantly so do Jack’s family who are dealing with grief which most of us hope never to have to experience. A proper explanation of the circumstances surrounding the incident is required for everyone and I don’t think that has been reflected in the way it has been presented so far in the media.”
Full statement of Lucy D’Orsi, Met’s commander for east London Full statement by Lucy D’Orsi, Met’s commander for east London
Today’s headlines concerning the tragic story of Jack Susianta who drowned in the River Lea offers a clear picture of a complex situation. Or does it?Today’s headlines concerning the tragic story of Jack Susianta who drowned in the River Lea offers a clear picture of a complex situation. Or does it?
Our thoughts are with Jack’s family – it is hard to comprehend the pain they must be feeling after losing a loved one so young. It’s also a traumatic event for the people on the river bank who witnessed the events unfold and the police officers involved in the incident. The call was not to investigate a crime but to help someone in distress. Reflecting on this point reminded me that policing is not all about crime. In fact over 60 per cent of what we are called to deal with in London is not crime. I, like my colleagues, joined policing to help people and that’s often the bit that is forgotton when people debate police activity.Our thoughts are with Jack’s family – it is hard to comprehend the pain they must be feeling after losing a loved one so young. It’s also a traumatic event for the people on the river bank who witnessed the events unfold and the police officers involved in the incident. The call was not to investigate a crime but to help someone in distress. Reflecting on this point reminded me that policing is not all about crime. In fact over 60 per cent of what we are called to deal with in London is not crime. I, like my colleagues, joined policing to help people and that’s often the bit that is forgotton when people debate police activity.
The Daily Mirror’s front page headline this morning, Friday 31 July, offers a definite conclusion - Police Refuse To Save Drowning Boy. No quotation marks, nothing to reflect our statement last night, Thursday, 30 July, that officers first tried to use a life aid and throw lines to him before an officer, who then needed assistance himself, entered dangerous water to try and safe Jack’s life. Met divers also entered the water in a rescue operation to try and save Jack. I saw no mention of this.The Daily Mirror’s front page headline this morning, Friday 31 July, offers a definite conclusion - Police Refuse To Save Drowning Boy. No quotation marks, nothing to reflect our statement last night, Thursday, 30 July, that officers first tried to use a life aid and throw lines to him before an officer, who then needed assistance himself, entered dangerous water to try and safe Jack’s life. Met divers also entered the water in a rescue operation to try and save Jack. I saw no mention of this.
When police have been involved in an incident where someone has died we must refer ourselves to the Independent Police Complaints Commission so they can look at the circumstances of what has happened. We have done this and this means that the detail and context around what exactly happened and the actions that were taken may take time to come out. Often when this happens the story is no longer front page news. It is only fair to Jack’s family and all those concerned in this case that we do not try to pre-empt the investigation by providing more detail than the brief description of events offered in yesterday’s statement. This feels frustrating but right.When police have been involved in an incident where someone has died we must refer ourselves to the Independent Police Complaints Commission so they can look at the circumstances of what has happened. We have done this and this means that the detail and context around what exactly happened and the actions that were taken may take time to come out. Often when this happens the story is no longer front page news. It is only fair to Jack’s family and all those concerned in this case that we do not try to pre-empt the investigation by providing more detail than the brief description of events offered in yesterday’s statement. This feels frustrating but right.
Our world is one of immediate news at a fast pace. We accept that headlines will be written before investigations have had time to run their course but this is sometimes disappointing and hard to understand. I think it is only fair on those involved in this incident to make sure that the way it is reported does reflect, for very valid reasons, the full context and the facts. Of course newspapers should quote the views of others but surely it would also be fair to reflect that the situation may, or may not be, more complex than some of the stories concerning this incident are reflecting. That might include putting quotation marks around a headline which is presented as a very factual statement.Our world is one of immediate news at a fast pace. We accept that headlines will be written before investigations have had time to run their course but this is sometimes disappointing and hard to understand. I think it is only fair on those involved in this incident to make sure that the way it is reported does reflect, for very valid reasons, the full context and the facts. Of course newspapers should quote the views of others but surely it would also be fair to reflect that the situation may, or may not be, more complex than some of the stories concerning this incident are reflecting. That might include putting quotation marks around a headline which is presented as a very factual statement.
My colleagues across London deal with high risk situations everyday, putting themselves at risk and running to things that most would run from. It’s not easy for them or their families and therefore when judged I believe they deserve to be judged fairly.My colleagues across London deal with high risk situations everyday, putting themselves at risk and running to things that most would run from. It’s not easy for them or their families and therefore when judged I believe they deserve to be judged fairly.
Followers of our Facebook pages will regularly read stories of officers who have been involved in incidents where lives have been saved, including water rescues. They are humbling stories which make me proud of the service we provide to Londoners. These rarely get reported in the national media but I recognise that in a democratic society which is proud of freedom of speech it is not for the police to suggest what is or is not editorially important. As it happens these Facebook posts are among our most popular.Followers of our Facebook pages will regularly read stories of officers who have been involved in incidents where lives have been saved, including water rescues. They are humbling stories which make me proud of the service we provide to Londoners. These rarely get reported in the national media but I recognise that in a democratic society which is proud of freedom of speech it is not for the police to suggest what is or is not editorially important. As it happens these Facebook posts are among our most popular.
Our officers deserve a fair and independent investigation into how an incident such as this has unfolded but most importantly so do Jack’s family who are dealing with grief which most of us hope never to have to experience. A proper explanation of the circumstances surrounding the incident is required for everyone and I don’t think that has been reflected in the way it has been presented so far in the media.Our officers deserve a fair and independent investigation into how an incident such as this has unfolded but most importantly so do Jack’s family who are dealing with grief which most of us hope never to have to experience. A proper explanation of the circumstances surrounding the incident is required for everyone and I don’t think that has been reflected in the way it has been presented so far in the media.