Stephen Lawrence's Brother To Sue Met.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9789506/Stephen-Lawrences-brother-sues-Met-over-race-discrimination.html

Should be interesting to see how successful he is in his quest to prove that Met officers only pulled him up because he was black.

Would the individuals who have been arrested under Metropolitan Police’s Operation Yewtree, also have a case, by complaining that they have been arrested because they are white?

Incidentally does anyone find it strange that he chose to go to accused right-wing, racist newspaper The Daily Mail with his story?

/// “I am being targeted because of the colour of my skin, I don’t think it’s because I am Stephen’s brother,” he told the Daily
Mail. ///

[anotheoldgit]

LazyGun

I don't know, perhaps not many white persons steal Mercedes or BMWs in those areas?

Just a thought, as I cannot see the police risking their career by pulling up black people just for the hell of it, especially in the present day climate of accusations of racism constantly hanging over their heads, why else do you think the police stood back on the first day of the Tottenham riots?

This case is a prime example, even if the police win the case will they be fully vindicated, I don't think so somehow, but then on the other hand if they are found guilty then they have no right being in the police service.

We can discuss the matter, but let us see what the verdict is, before we pass judgement either way.

[friedgreentomato]

Ah yes the Tottenham riots and what started them AOG?

And before you jump down my throat about being a police hater don't bother ok!!

[anotheoldgit]

Steve.5

/// In responce to your third paragraph. Not at all any paper will gladly report on a story that will exonerate its past, or
reputation. ///

A perfect example on how no matter what approach certain newspapers (or the police for that matter) take, they cannot win with some, no matter what they do.

[sp1814]

AOG

Would you like to withdraw this comparison:

[i]Would the individuals who have been arrested under Metropolitan Police’s Operation Yewtree, also have a case, by complaining that they have been arrested because they are white?[i]

I ask, because I suspect you didn't really think it through...and it's been picked up upon a couple of times.

The only way the two stories could be comparable would be if one of the suspects in the Yewtree case had had his house searched 25 times with no charges brought.

Has that happened?

[Gromit]

// why else do you think the police stood back on the first day of the Tottenham riots? //

Because they were initially undermanned and had no hope of restoring order. If your assessment is right AOG the maybe you could answer Why did the police hold back at the Manchester riot which was by white people?

[LazyGun]

@AoG - So if they are pulling over people based upon the colour of their skin, then that would be wrong, unfair,and discriminatory.

For myself, based purely upon what I read and anecdotally what i am told, police attitudes toward race has improved over the years, which is good, but that does not mean that such regressive attitudes are completely removed from all officers.

Anyway, as you say, we shall see what we shall see when he gets his day in court.

As for why he approached the Daily Mail - It might very well be because of pretty much the only thing they have ever done that they can be proud of, and that was their campaign on behalf of the Lawrence family seeking justice over the death of their son.So no, I do not find it strange at all.

[anotheoldgit]

friedgreentomato

/// Ah yes the Tottenham riots and what started them AOG? ///

Well we all know who started them, and as for the causes of the disorder.

/// Poor parenting was one of the factors behind last summer’s London and UK riots, an official report into the causes of the disorder has found. ///

Oh dear this is all beginning to tie up with my previous thread.

[Gromit]

^^^^

Nothing to do with the police stopping a car and fatally shooting the occupant then?

[mccfluff]

im sure it all started off because the police shot to death a man who wasn't holding a gun, but was black

[Zeuhl]

/Oh dear this is all beginning to tie up with my previous thread. /

Yes aog

and as addressed there

the 'poor parenting' and riots of last year caused damage that was a tiny fraction of the damage done to our cities in the period 1939-45 - a period in which the country was managed, overseen and steered according to the principles of earlier generations of parents and greater 'discipline'

[anotheoldgit]

LazyGun

/// It might very well be because of pretty much the only thing they have ever done that they can be proud of, and that was their campaign on behalf of the Lawrence family seeking justice over the death of their son. ///

That may be of course that this was the only campaign that fitted your own particular agenda, maybe they have taken on others that you yourself are less admirable of?

I suggest you read the 'Best Answer', no one has yet addressed this excellent answer.

[Sqad]

Zeuhl...

\\\the 'poor parenting' and riots of last year caused damage that was a tiny fraction of the damage done to our cities in the period 1939-45 - a period in which the country was managed, overseen and steered according to the principles of earlier generations of parents and greater 'discipline'\\

I always respect your opinion, but i must question your above statement..........surely THAT damage was done by the Luftwaffe......have i missed your point?

[Zeuhl]

I suggest you read the 'Best Answer', no one has yet addressed this excellent answer./

snafu makes an interesting point

but it seems perverse to elevate to best answer or suggest that other posters need to read and address it; a post that doesn't actually address the original question

[sp1814]

AOG

Do you still stand by your YewTree comparison?

Also, do you think it would be useful to know over how many years these 23 stops (excluding the two standard checks) occurred.

I'm also wondering whether he was on his way to work (and would've been 'suited and booted' looking at his profession).

That would fly in the face of the idea that the police were stopping him simply because of the high incident of car thefts amongst young black men in his area - because car thieves very rarely wear a suit and tie to go on the rob.

That would then mean the police were using the very broadest kind of racial profiling.

[craft1948]

lol Bazille you're going mad, but with my memory perhaps not.

aog I always defend the police, my brother is a retired police inspector and you could not find a straighter, better bloke anywhere. He thought many of the met were a disgrace to the uniform, partly due to their racist attitudes. (He also wasn't keen on the way they battered the miners)

[Gromit]

/// Poor parenting was one of the factors behind last summer’s London and UK riots, an official report into the causes of the disorder has found. ///

A bit of selective editing there AOG. Here is the next paragraph which you censored.

// The Riots, Communities and Victims Panel report is due to be published tomorrow.
Today Sky News reported they had a leaked copy of the report which concludes that factors including lack of confidence in the police //

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/9169274/Poor-parenting-to-blame-for-London-riots-report-says.html

[sp1814]

Snafu03

If the police mess up a 'fair few murder enquiries', could you please list, say, the top ten.

I'd wager that in many of those there was some kind of enquiry.

Okay...that's a bit mean. Let's stretch it to cases where the police have messed up, or been seen to mess up.

Ian Tomlinson comes to mind.

So does Hillsborough.

I'm sure there are many more. But the face remains, the Stephen Lawrence case is not unique.

What makes you think it is?