• Home /
• Statewatch Database /
• UK: Policemen jailed

UK: Policemen jailed

01 March 1992

Two policemen, Mark Irvine and Barry Rankin, found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of actual bodily harm on Emmanuel Ziregbe, have each been jailed for two years. The attack on Mr Ziregbe, who was working as a taxi driver, occurred when a group of off- duty policeman left a colleague's stag party in Hammersmith last year and hailed his cab. Mr Ziregbe was asked if he would take five passengers but refused because he was only insured for four people. He was subjected to racial abuse and dragged from the cab, headbutted twice and repeatedly punched and kicked.

The two men have also been ordered to pay Mr Ziregbe £500 damages each. A third officer was acquitted and the jury could not reach a decision in the case of the fourth officer. The judge described the attack as "cowardly and vicious".

Recently the Metropolitan police paid £20,000 to Constable Franklyn Asumah, in an out of court settlement, after he had been subjected to racist abuse by fellow officers while serving with the Territorial Support Group in Barnes.

In January Sergeant Raham Khan, from Pakistan, took West Yorkshire police to an Industrial Tribunal alleging that he had been refused promotion due to his colour. A Jewish officer, PC Nigel Brown, who won an Industrial Tribunal against the Metropolitan Police, has subsequently threatened to resign following continued anti-semitism.

Guardian, 14.11.91 17.1.92 10.2.92; Independent, 12.2.92; Voice 19.11.91.