GOOD COP BAD COP
Gavin Shaw interviews three people with bad police experiences.
The Met's response follows.


If you think you've been the victim of police harassment call the Duty Officer of your local police station on 0181-340 1212 (Hornsey) or 0181-808 1212 (Tottenham). Your complaint can then begin to be investigated.
If you're still not satisfied by the response call the Police Complaints Authority on 0181-273 6450 and/or seek additional, independent advice from your parents, teachers or youth workers.


CLAIRE'S STORY
Claire was in Holloway Road when three meat wagons (police vans) pulled over. Claire, an innocent bystander, was grabbed by the hair by a male police officer and arrested in connection with armed robbery.  Claire was locked in a cell for over an hour, interviewed and released with no charge.  Claire's view is that this was a racist attack as she is mixed race and the officer was white.
This incident embarrassed her and pissed her off.

DANIEL'S STORY
Me and my brother went to see this 'friend' of ours about some money he owed us. His mum answered through the closed door and told us to go away.  My brother told me to brick the window to make our 'mate' come down. I found this milk bottle and chucked it at the window. It smashed and so me and my brother ran off to a local park. After half an hour we went back down to the same road to catch a cab home.  Police officers were there. We sat down on the pavement to finish our cigarette. We figured there was no point in running 'cos the friend's mother knew who we were. The police officers came over. One told me I was too young to smoke and to put the cigarette out. I refused and he pulled me down the street by my jacket to talk to me.  He guessed I was the person who'd broken the window and took me to the woman's house so she could identify me.  She confirmed who I was. Meanwhile her son was shouting abuse at me from his balcony so I told him to 'f---- off'.  The officer holding me just throttled me with his bare hands. I choked but he wouldn't let go. I tried to push him away and eventually he released me.  He said I was under arrest for criminal damage. He dragged me to the other side of the road and chucked me to the floor and put the handcuffs on. I was taken down the cells at Hornsey police station. After 13 and a half hours I was finally interviewed with a solicitor and then released on bail.  I was sorry about the window but the police officer shouldn't have treated me like that. I've still got scars and cuts on my neck from when he was holding me.


ANDREW'S STORY
I was in Muswell Hill with a mate walking around. I saw an alley I'd never been down before so I went to have a look.  There was nothing of interest so I decided to go.  As I came to the end of the alley I saw a policeman walking towards me.  I didn't think anything of it because I hadn't done anything wrong.  The policeman said: "Oi, you! Come here." The policeman asked me where I came from and I replied London and asked him what was wrong again.  He twisted my ear and slapped me across my face and said: "Don't be cheeky you little bastard."  This made me feel unsafe because I had always seen police as people who would protect me. He asked me where I lived and I gave him my name and address. He then said: "Right, you're banned from this alley and if I see you again I'll arrest you" and went off.  My friend had been with me all the time but didn't get asked anything. He said he didn't understand why they didn't say anything to him. After this incident bugging me for three years it's now become obvious to me that the reason the officer picked on me was because my big brother had been in trouble with the local police in the past. 

THE POLICE'S RESPONSE
(PC Robinson, Local Homebeat Officer)
I appreciate the opportunity to respond to the issue of police harassment and to try and be positive and give good advice should other young people encounter similar situations.  First of all, if you keep within the law then you stand less chance of being involved with the police. If you do commit a crime you run the risk of being detected coming in to contact with police during their investigations.  There are also laws relating to social behaviour where young people may have direct dealings with the police. When you're in groups on the street your behaviour could bring you to our attention, or when you've been drinking, or taking drugs.  If you are a young person you are more likely to be stopped by the police because certain crimes are more likely to be committed by young people than by adults. Remember, the police's job is to detect and prevent crime. Although I understand that it can be aggravating to be classified as a suspect, if you are innocent, then you have nothing to hide. Being cooperative with the police has to make sense.  Police officers are only human. They may react  in an adverse way if young people are so resentful for being stopped that they become uncivil and abusive. Innocent people may then find themselves needlessly arrested.  If you are arrested then you have statutory rights before, during and after the arrest procedure. These are laid down by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. You should be given a copy of your rights when you are brought into the police station.  If these rights are not complied with then you should bring this to the attention of an adult or legal representative at the police station, then or at a later date. 

EXPOSURE YOUTH MAGAZINE
PUBLISHED BY HARINGEY YOUTH PUBLISHING PROJECT
WWW address: http://www.youth-service.demon.co.uk/exposure/