Boris Johnson’s government must acknowledge institutional racism and then tackle these issues
I HAVE a sense of relief that justice for George Floyd has been seen to be done.
But also a sense that there is an opportunity for police reform – in the UK too – to ensure we don’t have a tragedy like this again.
Police forces in majority white countries need to make sure they treat everyone with respect and dignity regardless of their ethnicity or class.
Policing needs to be fit for purpose for the 21st Century. We don’t patrol with firearms in this country, so we don’t have trigger-happy cops.
But there is certain racial profiling that we see around stop-and-search and the use of force.
Black people here are five times more likely to be a victim of heavy-handed policing than white counterparts. And black people are twice as likely to die in UK custody than white people.
One important thing that emerged following George Floyd’s murder was that police officers spoke up against rogue officer Derek Chauvin.
That’s really important. Good cops have to speak up against the bad cops. Rogue cops are in the minority.
But if officers don’t speak up against the bad apples, then all are painted with the same brush as being racist and violent.
Since George Floyd’s murder there has been a social movement, of all ethnicities and backgrounds, saying we need change.
Most read in News
We can’t just talk about it year in, year out. I don’t want my grandchildren to suffer the sort of injustices that my generation did.
I would like Boris Johnson’s Government to acknowledge that systemic racism, structural racism and institutional racism are issues and then tackle these issues.
Let’s use this iconic case that affected the world to make a more just society.
