'Stand up, stand together' against inequality, says Neil Basu as he backs 'legitimate anger'

NEIL BASU has said this is “a time to stand up to racists, to inequality and injustice” in a “personal message” to his policing colleagues in the UK.

“The death of George Floyd horrified us all, and rightly so,” said the assistant commissioner of the Met Police. “All the good cops I know -- regardless of heritage -- were also horrified, but for many of my BAME colleagues I suspect this has been a particularly shattering week. At least, that’s how I feel.”

The custodial killing “represented the worst of policing and will forever be a totemic image of racial injustice in America”, said Basu, adding that he this would be “a moment for change” in the US.

Taking note of the global anti-racism protests, he stressed that the anger was “directed not just at police brutality but the racial bias built into the very fabric of our institutions and society -- perhaps best illustrated in the UK by the huge disparity in young black men in the criminal justice system”.

Basu, who is the head of counter terrorism policing, said he had been wearing the badge “proudly for 28 years”.

“I also happen to be of mixed Indian and white British heritage, which means that I am the most senior BAME officer in the UK,” he added, recalling that he joined the Met in 1992, “just after a BBC documentary called Black and Blue”.

“It was powerful, depressing stuff, following the aspirations of young black and Asian police recruits – or more importantly how those aspirations were shattered. Friends and family thought I was insane and I wouldn’t last 28 minutes, let alone 28 years. But here I still am, and I would do it all again.”

Basu, who is a representative of the National Police Chief’s Council, said he had doubts about the force as he took up his first independent patrol in 1993.

“Doubts that it would become the professional, open and caring institution it is today,” he added.

Within a few days, UK was rocked with the “senseless” murder of a young black man, Stephen Lawrence, in a racist attack in Eltham.

The devastation and grief of Lawrence’s family was “compounded many times over by our poor response”, Basu recalled.

Then came the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry by Sir William Macpherson. “Few inquiries have received such attention or have been so transformational - exposing inequalities so familiar to BAME communities, and particularly the black British community,” said Basu.

“It was particularly hard to be a BAME officer at that time, and less than two per cent of us were. For the failings of an organisation I love to be exposed so explicitly and publicly was painful.”

Basu noted that the “damning findings and recommendations of that inquiry are etched into the fabric of UK policing’s history -- but the positive outcomes, hard won, are real”.

There have been many “missteps and setbacks”, he added.

“Each setback is heart-breaking and despite how far we have come we must confront the fact that with many of our communities – especially the black community –  we still have a long way to go,” said Basu.

Besides the disparities in the UK’s criminal justice system, he noted how recent reports showed BAME communities were “not only more likely to die as a result of Covid-19, they have also been disproportionately affected by the way we have policed lockdown rules”.

“This disparity is seen in education, in health, in the workplace – it’s everywhere – and it’s a daily lived experience for many,” said Basu.

“So, let us view the legitimate anger, manifesting itself now in different ways, with nuance and care.”

Basu highlighted that the “overwhelming majority” of protests in the UK were peaceful, barring “a tiny minority” of “criminal opportunists”.

The protesters “have a point”, he said. “We need to listen to our communities, and our people, and focus on what we in the UK can do better.”

The top officer saluted the force for “the restraint, dignity and empathy many showed under real pressure”.

Furthermore, Basu said “integrity and courage” meant to “speak up and act” when needed “even with our bosses”.

“Indeed, it is precisely because one of our BAME officers had the courage to stand up and tell their bosses how they felt, that I felt inspired to write this,” he said.

“Above all, we must retain the key value so grimly absent as George Floyd died. Compassion.”

Basu urged officers working alongside BAME colleagues to “take the time to check how they are”.

“And if you are one of my BAME colleagues please know that whether you feel ok and able to get on with life, or you feel like you have been deeply affected – your feelings are valid. If you feel like you need help or support, please do not be afraid to ask for it.”

He also encouraged officers to “honour George’s memory and leave policing in a better state than we found it…. be a force for true change”.

“Taking a knee was and is a powerful symbol of challenge and hope, and I was moved to see some of our officers do so,” said Basu.

“But personally, I see this as a time to stand up -- stand up to racists, to inequality and injustice.”

He summed up that there could be “no better sight” than watching diverse people “standing together in peace against injustice”.

“At the height of probably the greatest fear some of our communities have ever known, this is a time to stand together,” said Basu.