Black inspector sues Met for racial harassment after he is stopped by two white colleagues

A senior black police officer is suing the Metropolitan Police for racial harassment after he was stopped by two white colleagues while he was driving home from work.

Inspector Charles Ehikioya claims the reason he was pulled over was “for no other reason other than the fact that they have seen a black man driving a car”.

The officer, who has served for 22-years, has accused the Met of exercising an “abuse of power” and has said he decided to take action in solidarity with the black community following a series of high profile incidents.

Scotland Yard said it had conducted a review of the incident, which occurred in south London on May 23, but had "found no evidence of misconduct”.

Mr Ehikioya, 55, has now launched legal action against his employer, claiming he has been “persecuted” and arguing that the issue is not being taken seriously enough.

The incident occurred in the Croydon area of south London when Mr Ehikioya was pulled over by two white officers who claimed his driving had been “unusual”.

Mr Ehikioya explained that he had been stopped after being followed for around two miles and he then recorded the interaction in order to “protect himself”.

The officers allegedly told him he had been driving too fast and also that he “looked like he had gone through a red light”.

One of the officers also asked for Mr Ehikioya's driving licence as well as proof that he was insured to drive the car, that the vehicle had not been stolen, that he was not intoxicated and that he had not been using his phone.

The inspector was also accused of being obstructive by the officers who stopped him.

The two officers left the scene after Mr Ehikioya informed them he was a serving colleague and showed them his police badge.

Asked why he believed he had been stopped, Mr Ehikioya told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The reason why I feel I was pulled over was for no other reason other than the fact that they have seen a black man driving a car.

“I just feel they have done this because I am black and this is well out of order and it shouldn't be the reason you go round intimidating members of the public.”

The Met noted in their statement that no action was taken against the inspector as a result of the stop.

Mr Ehikioya said: "I believed I was racially profiled and received no apology. I have kids and a grandson, I would not want them treated like this.”

He said he had decided to take legal action because he felt someone had to take a stand against the problem of racism within the Met.

He explained: “In my view it is not the whole organisation that is like that, it is only a few individuals who are causing this issue and it is just sad that some people don’t want to hear it and when I went to do that and I feel it has not been taken seriously and it is not being listened to, but instead I am being persecuted.

“I am not prepared to sit quietly and in silence and therefore I have no choice but to react in the way I am reacting to bring it to the attention, to let them know that it is about time that somebody sits up and listens and does something about it. Enough talk, actions speak louder than words.”

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "On Saturday, 23 May 2020, a driver was stopped by police while driving his vehicle. The driver, who is a black man, alleged that the stop was the result of racial profiling.

"As is usual practice, local enquiries were undertaken by the Professional Standards Unit.

"Enquiries established that the vehicle was followed by officers prior to the stop due to suspicion of excessive speed at a traffic signal and onward. As part of these enquiries, body worn video [BWV] of the stop was viewed.

"The BWV of the stop showed that the officers communicated their reasons/cause for the stop to the complainant as they are required to do. The review found no evidence of misconduct.  No action was taken against the man stopped."

The complaint comes amid renewed scrutiny of the way the black community in London is policed.

Last week Dawn Butler, the Labour MP for Brent accused Scotland Yard of racial profiling after she was pulled over by police as she and a friend were driving through Hackney, east London.

The Met defended the officers who stopped her car, with Deputy Commissioner Sir Steve House complaining they had faced "trial by social media" following the incident after Ms Butler uploaded the video to social media.

Bianca Williams, the Team GB sprinter, is also taking action against the Met after she and her boyfriend were stopped and searched by police in west London.