Yahoo News The Chase star Shaun Wallace says he has experienced racial profiling
The Chase star Shaun Wallace has opened up about being the victim of racial profiling in a new interview.
The Chaser appeared on Good Morning Britain today (June 9), revealing that he has been stopped by police numerous times, including a couple of instances when he was a barrister.
"On two occasions I was coming out of Kingston Crown Court with a solicitor who happened to be white, and I was approached by a plain clothes police officer who basically said, 'You fit the profile and description of a person who was involved in a robbery,'" he recalled. "And I was simply taken aback and startled.
"They said, 'Where were you?' And I said, 'I was at Kingston Crown Court.' 'What were you doing there?' I said, 'Well, if you look inside my bag you'll see why.' When he saw my robes, he was totally astonished."
Of another incident, Wallace revealed he was returning from Liverpool Crown Court when he was again stopped by police.
"I was getting off the train," he continued. "And again I was approached by two plain clothes police officers, and I was a bit startled about why they were coming up to me.
"Again they said the same thing to me, 'You fit the profile of a person we want to talk to about a robbery.' And I was totally startled, and again I showed them my wig and gown, and they weren't even apologetic in relation to the conduct and response."
During the interview, the professional quizzer spoke about the wider issue of racial discrimination, adding: "What's happening in England, which has been happening for far too long, is the way in which young Black boys in particular have been stopped and searched – it's been done so in a disrespectful fashion, and the way in which they've been treated is totally in disregard of their human rights.
"I always say to young people, if you are stopped and searched, you've got nothing to fear if you've done nothing wrong, so simply respond to police officers in a dignified and calm manner."
He went on: "I'm never going to give a police officer an excuse in terms of my conduct to give them a reason to arrest me. I've been stopped countless times, not only in my capacity as a barrister, but when I was a young boy growing up. But the one thing I would never do is give a police officer any excuse to arrest me.
"The message I like to come across to young people is this – it's very difficult for you not to react, but to react in a way that will give them an excuse to arrest you is one thing that can be avoided."
Host Lorraine Kelly then asked whether Wallace felt things were changing more profoundly in the wake of current Black Lives Matter protests, the star saying that they were – mainly because there has been a "worldwide response".
"The one thing which I'm sort of empowered and proud of is the fact that it's young people who are taking the initiative," he said. "Young people represent the future and it's they who will make the positive change in the future.
"People like myself are guardians of the present, we know what's happened in the past as far as racism is concerned. It's not something which is going to go away, it's been going on with Black people and the Black community at large, who have been suffering that for years.
"They say that we live in the 21st century and we're treated equal in the eyes of the law in terms of anti-racial discrimination. But in reality what has changed, especially in relation to young people, especially Black young people, [is how they] are treated on the streets by police officers when they're stopped and searched. Because a disproportionate number are being stopped and searched, and you've got to ask why. It is basically because of the colour of their skin."
For more information on how you can support Black Lives Matter, please visit its official website or donate here. Readers can also donate to the UK anti-discrimination group Stand Up To Racism, and the Unite Families & Friends Campaign, which supports those affected by deaths in police, prison and psychiatric custody.
Digital Spy now has a newsletter – sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox.
Looking for more TV recommendations and discussion? Head over to our Facebook Group to see new picks every day, and chat with other readers about what they're watching right now.
You Might Also Like
