PRESS RELEASE – 25 MAY 2023 – PRESS STATEMENT AS CHIEF CONSTABLE SIR IAN LIVINGSTONE DECLARES THAT POLICE SCOTLAND IS INSTITUTIONALLY RACIST

PRESS RELEASE – 25 MAY 2023

PRESS STATEMENT AS CHIEF CONSTABLE SIR IAN LIVINGSTONE DECLARES THAT POLICE SCOTLAND IS INSTITUTIONALLY RACIST

Statement by Aamer Anwar, Solicitor – on behalf of the family of Sheku Bayoh who died in police custody on 3rd May 2015.

“It seems like a lifetime ago I made legal history in winning a civil action against Glasgow Police for a racist attack, in which they smashed my front teeth smashed out and told me ‘this is what happens to black boys with big mouths’.

For far too long those in policing have refused to accept the undeniable fact that institutional racism exists, as those in uniform continued to rain blows of racism on our communities.

Today’s statement by the Chief Constable is testament to families like those of Sheku Bayoh, Surjit Singh Chhokar and all those struggles fought by the victims of racial violence and injustice.

Today is testament to all those officers who took an oath to serve our community, but because of their race, sexuality or gender were persecuted and discriminated against by their Police Service.

The family of Sheku Bayoh want me to thank the Chief Constable for raising his voice for the truth and being brave enough to say what black and Asian communities have known for decades.

The Sheku Bayoh family also want me to place record their thanks to the Chief Constable for his compassion and empathy, wishing him all the best in his future.

Fighting for a proper investigation, never mind achieving robust and meaningful change, has involved the Bayoh’s in enormous challenges and obstacles at great personal cost to the emotional and physical health of their family, young and old.

Their lives were changed forever on the 3rd May 2015, however the Public Inquiry into Sheku’s death has still a long way to go and it would inappropriate to comment further on that or reach any conclusions.

The review by Dame Elish Angiolini KC, highlighted deep rooted racism in Police Scotland, uncovering a ‘hostile culture’ which discriminates against black and Asian officers but also female officers who continue to be victims of horrendous misogyny and at times sexual violence.

Our communities are tired of grieving at gravesides, tired of trying to prove structural racism exists. Policing by consent is the pillar of any civilised democracy and today is an opportunity for a fundamental reset and restoring trust with all our communities.

Over the years there has been little evidence of institutional or individual learning from investigations, inspectorate reports, inquiries and reviews, whilst whistleblowers are systematically bullied, punished and erased- that cannot and must not be allowed to continue.

As for the Scottish Police Federation representing over 18,000 police officers in Scotland – they have been accused of being in an arrogant child-like denial about the existence of institutional racism, of adopting a knee jerk response to those that call it out, whilst failing even their own officers who seek support on discrimination- the Federation have no option but to modernise and change.

The Chief Constable has set a challenge not just for the Police Service of Scotland, but to all police forces throughout the United Kingdom, especially the Metropolitan Police who refuse to accept indisputable evidence of institutional racism.

In the end the real test on institutional racism, will not be the sympathy expressed for families like those of Sheku Bayoh but whether this country acts to ensure that real change takes place in our all-powerful police service.”