The sharing of a video capturing the assault of a teenage boy by the Metropolitan Police force on Easter Monday has brought details of the incident to the wider public after a wave of collective Afriphobia saw an initial whitewashing of the incident by the mainstream media.
The incident which took place outside 143 Heath Park Road in Romford on 22 April 2019, shows the plain-clothes officer Kevin Rawley beating a handcuffed teenager with a baton who is not resisting arrest or posing any threat of danger to the public. The officer only takes control of his rage when he becomes aware that he is being observed and filmed by members of the public challenging his actions. Throughout the assault the teenage pleads for him to stop.
The incident occurred after a fourteen-year-old boy and the seventeen-year-old victim had been targeted by stop and search operations in the area. Defending the assault on the child, the police have told the media that the teenager had been arrested for possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply and that there had been a 'struggle' leading to the arrest.
The attack carries echoes of the deadly assault by police that led to the death of 20 year old Rashan Charles in Hackney on 22 July 2017. Like the teen in the video, Charles was assaulted while officer PC Matt (also known as BX47) used unjustifiable force in a fit of uncontrollable rage.
A petition organised by BAME Lawyers for Justice (BLJ) calling for the immediate suspension of the officer involved has attracted over 52,000 signatures. Speaking on the issue, a representative of BLJ said “Yesterday I received a phone call from the boy concerned. He had been depressed, anxious and of course traumatised as result of his arrest.”
Lee Jasper, former Deputy Mayor of London responsible for policing raised a formal complaint about ‘this wanton act of apparent police brutality’ after being made aware of the incident via social media.
The Romford Recorder reports that on Thursday, April 25 the Met Police confirmed on that an internal review is being conducted and that a police spokeswoman said: “There has been no formal complaint made to us… However, we are aware of the footage and we will conduct our own review.”
This is untrue, the Ligali organisation was amongst many who made online complaints via the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) website. Our organisation also wrote to several major media organisations such as the BBC and Channel 4 news requesting them to cover the story which had been ignored up to that point in time.
An official investigation into the police, by the police?
The Evening Standard which failed to cover the story on the day following the assault has now reported on the incident stating the police have said that "A public complaint was received, then referred to the IOPC*, who have now launched an independent investigation.”
The BBC who has also now decided to cover the story reports that the Met Police force has confirmed the officer had been put on restrictive duties.
*The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is the latest version of disgraced police watchdogs – The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and the Police Complaints authority which all consistently failed to eradicate Afriphobia and deliver justice to victims of police brutality, corruption and malpractice.
External Links
Change - We Call For the Immediate Suspension Of Romford Metropolitan Police PC Kevin RawleyThousands sign petition calling for suspension of police officer after video of teenagerShocking video of plain-clothes officer using his baton to repeatedly hit 17-year-old as teen pleads Im a child is probed by MetRomford baton arrest: Officer investigated by watchdogWatchdog investigates video of officer appearing to use baton on teenager
IPCC: Protecting corrupt police, betraying public confidenceJustice4Rashan – An alternative verdict
The incident which took place outside 143 Heath Park Road in Romford on 22 April 2019, shows the plain-clothes officer Kevin Rawley beating a handcuffed teenager with a baton who is not resisting arrest or posing any threat of danger to the public. The officer only takes control of his rage when he becomes aware that he is being observed and filmed by members of the public challenging his actions. Throughout the assault the teenage pleads for him to stop.
The incident occurred after a fourteen-year-old boy and the seventeen-year-old victim had been targeted by stop and search operations in the area. Defending the assault on the child, the police have told the media that the teenager had been arrested for possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply and that there had been a 'struggle' leading to the arrest.
The attack carries echoes of the deadly assault by police that led to the death of 20 year old Rashan Charles in Hackney on 22 July 2017. Like the teen in the video, Charles was assaulted while officer PC Matt (also known as BX47) used unjustifiable force in a fit of uncontrollable rage.
Raged Assaults: Viral video shows Kevin Rawley using his baton on defenceless teen (left) / Assault by PC Matt (BX47) kills defenceless Rashan Charles in Dalston, Hackney (right)
Cover up?
A petition organised by BAME Lawyers for Justice (BLJ) calling for the immediate suspension of the officer involved has attracted over 52,000 signatures. Speaking on the issue, a representative of BLJ said “Yesterday I received a phone call from the boy concerned. He had been depressed, anxious and of course traumatised as result of his arrest.”Lee Jasper, former Deputy Mayor of London responsible for policing raised a formal complaint about ‘this wanton act of apparent police brutality’ after being made aware of the incident via social media.
The Romford Recorder reports that on Thursday, April 25 the Met Police confirmed on that an internal review is being conducted and that a police spokeswoman said: “There has been no formal complaint made to us… However, we are aware of the footage and we will conduct our own review.”
This is untrue, the Ligali organisation was amongst many who made online complaints via the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) website. Our organisation also wrote to several major media organisations such as the BBC and Channel 4 news requesting them to cover the story which had been ignored up to that point in time.
An official investigation into the police, by the police?
The Evening Standard which failed to cover the story on the day following the assault has now reported on the incident stating the police have said that "A public complaint was received, then referred to the IOPC*, who have now launched an independent investigation.”
The BBC who has also now decided to cover the story reports that the Met Police force has confirmed the officer had been put on restrictive duties.
*The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is the latest version of disgraced police watchdogs – The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and the Police Complaints authority which all consistently failed to eradicate Afriphobia and deliver justice to victims of police brutality, corruption and malpractice.
Police Complaint systems: Biased police watchdogs consistently fail to protect public and deliver justice.
External Links
Change - We Call For the Immediate Suspension Of Romford Metropolitan Police PC Kevin RawleyThousands sign petition calling for suspension of police officer after video of teenagerShocking video of plain-clothes officer using his baton to repeatedly hit 17-year-old as teen pleads Im a child is probed by MetRomford baton arrest: Officer investigated by watchdogWatchdog investigates video of officer appearing to use baton on teenager
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IPCC: Protecting corrupt police, betraying public confidenceJustice4Rashan – An alternative verdict
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Should the officer Kevin Rawley be suspended, fired or rewarded for his actions? Do you have confidence in the governments Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to deliver justice?Click here to speak out and share your perspective on this article.
Met officer Kevin Rawley only takes control of his rage when he becomes aware he is being observed by members of the public challenging his actions. Throughout the assault the teenage pleads for him to stop.
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