Former police race adviser charged with racially aggravated offence

A former race relations adviser to the police who was allegedly injured when a police officer fired a stun gun at him has been charged with a racially aggravated offence.

Judah Adunbi, also known as Ras, was arrested at his home in Bristol on Wednesday and will appear in court next month.

Adunbi, of Easton, Bristol, was charged with a racially aggravated public order offence following an alleged incident at a betting shop on the city’s Stapleton Road on 29 March.

The 64-year-old, who is a former member of an independent advisory group to Avon and Somerset police, has been released on conditional bail to appear at Bristol magistrates court on 22 May.

His solicitor, Tony Murphy, of Bhatt Murphy Solicitors, said he would be challenging the charge. “Ras Judah has a long history of challenging racism in all its forms and he shall be resisting this prosecution,” Murphy said.

Last year, Adunbi was allegedly shot by a police officer using a Taser electrical weapon in Easton. A video of the alleged incident was widely shared on social media and made headlines around the world.

PC Claire Boddie, of Avon and Somerset police, is due in court on Monday for a pre-trial hearing in relation to that case. She denies a charge of common assault.

The Justice 4 Judah campaign called on the public to support Adunbi at court. “We encourage campaign supporters to gather outside Bristol magistrates court this coming Monday at 1.30pm to show some solidarity,” they said.

Avon and Somerset police said: “A 64-year-old man has been charged with a racially aggravated public order offence following an incident at a betting shop in Stapleton Road, Bristol.

“Ras Adunbi, of Easton in Bristol, was arrested on 18 April and subsequently charged with a racially aggravated public order offence. He has been released on conditional bail to appear at Bristol magistrates court on 22 May.”

Adunbi has sat on Bristol’s independent advisory group, which forges links between the police and the community, and worked with the CPS’s local community involvement panel.