#BTColumn – The colour of justice

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today Inc.

by Vincent “Boo” Nurse

News around COVID-19 has understandably put other events in the background. It follows therefore that other issues, particularly those that affect the Black community in the UK have gone unnoticed and largely unreported.

However, a case where the honesty of a white police officer was called into question was finally settled in the Court of Justices yesterday by those who were accused and convicted.

Fifty years ago, three innocent Black men were jailed after a now proven corrupt police officer concocted evidence against them in a case of attempted robbery of the said police officer, Derek Ridgewell.

West Indians Courtney Harriot, Paul Green and Cleveland Davidson all aged between 17 and 20 years at the time, and three others were charged jointly with the offence after being arrested on the London Underground.

They failed to convince the jurors that they were subjected to violence and threats, and by extension that the evidence against them was flawed and unsafe.

At the Royal Court of Justices the convicted men had their names cleared. Remarkably it has taken nearly 50 years to put right the injustices suffered by those young and innocent men.

Speaking outside the court after the appellate judges had reversed the convictions Davidson said: “It is a vindication of our case that we were innocent at the time.

We were only young then, we did nothing. It was a total stitch-up. It was a frame-up for nothing. We just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time with a bad and corrupt police officer.”

A solicitor who acted for the three men in an overview of the case seemed ill at ease because of the length of time it had taken to have the matter resolved, although it was known that the arresting officer was of doubtful character.

The solicitor said: “While the acquittal of these innocent men is welcome news, it is deeply troubling that it has taken so long to happen.”

On quiet reflection one is bound to wonder how many innocent young Black men have languished in the jails of this country because they were stitched up by a system that then appeared to support the word of an officer in uniform however unsound the evidence against the accused.

The 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s were undoubtably dark days for West Indians in the areas of stop and search and general policing, etc. Knowledge of the grave injustices suffered by these men makes one shudder in retrospect. IT COULD HAVE BEEN ME.

On another front:

The UK is gradually easing its way out of COVID-19 protocols which have enveloped the nation for the past 18 months.

There appears to be a fear and apprehension amongst many in the communities regarding what effect this renewed freedom will have on the maintenance of law and order, particularly crime in the large cities of the country such as London
and Birmingham.

There is evidence of a re-emergence of stabbings and other knife crimes which have resulted in some fatalities. Indeed, in this week alone, two teenagers have met their death in south London. These incidents closely follow similar events in Birmingham.

The media’s concentration on COVID-19 matters have had the effect of putting these occurrences below the radar, but nonetheless the assault and the apparent disregard for the value of a life serve to form a renewed and frightening pattern.

It has recently come to light that there is a worrying uneasiness in the community. A survey has shown that 49 per cent of Londoners believe that the capital city has become more unsafe while only 26 per cent believe it to be the opposite.

However, it should be noted that these perceptions vary according to age groups. Ironically, residents in the quieter areas in outer London feel markedly unsafe.

The unease in the community is perhaps shared by police authorities who have stated that it is their belief that there will be a great increase in crime rates after lockdown has been fully lifted. Knife crime is particularly high in London where a record 15,080 incidents were recorded year-on-yeawwwwr
to September 2020. It horrifies therefore to learn of the projection of the police.

One can easily foresee a situation where residents will retreat and retire to the safety of their homes and in consequence the question of whether or not London is a safe place will truly be pertinent. However, an overriding question looms large before us, and it relates to young adolescent Black men in London.

It is already established that young Afro-Caribbean men are disproportionately stopped, searched, and arrested in London when compared to their white peers.

If the police anticipate great increases in crime, it therefore follows that their generic instincts will lead them to become more active in the use of stop and search in the Black community of London whether or not those searches are seen to be justified in the general public eye.

It does not augur well for free and unfettered movement of young Black men in the months ahead.

Vincent “Boo” Nurse is a Barbadian living in London who is a retired land Revenue Manager, Pensions and Investment Adviser. He is passionate about the development of his island home and disapora.