Marine wants probe into West Yorkshire Police after being accused of ‘threats and blatant lies’
A serving Royal Marine, who won a historic defamation case against West Yorkshire Police over an alleged attempt to have him dismissed from the armed services, has called for the independent police watchdog to investigate the force.
The 25-year-old serviceman, who is black, accepted substantial damages after the force issued an apology at the High Court in June. It was the first time a police force was found to have committed the highest level of defamation.
A police officer had emailed the marine’s superiors accusing him of “threats and blatant lies” and stating that his behaviour was below the standard expected of a member of the armed forces. It called for an internal investigation in the event police were unable to bring criminal charges.
The email, which contained allegations made by the marine’s former partner, was sent before officers had contacted him or formally interviewed his ex-partner. The pair were involved in a custody dispute at the time.
The marine, who cannot be named for legal reasons, spent more than a year on bail before the case was dropped due to lack of evidence.
He wants the Independent Office for Police Conduct to take up the case and for the individuals involved to be held to account.
He told Sky News: “You can imagine receiving an email like this from your employers that has been sent by a police officer, which was effectively stating that I had committed two very serious criminal offences against my former partner. You can imagine the panic, the real emotional and psychological effect that that would have.”
He said the force has questions to answer about the wider investigation. “There are many good police officers out there, and I’m sure that they have got a really tough job. However, when you are in the wrong, you should be dealt with appropriately.”
The sending of the email to senior officers in his unit, he said, was of particular concern.
“It has taken a hell of a lot of hard work and determination and, and a certain mindset to be able to get to where I am in my career and this could have been taken away in the blink of an eye simply from a police officer writing that email,” he said.
Copy of email sent to marine’s employers
The marine wants an investigation into the police force
“I would 100% say that there was a racial element to this as well. I do not believe that if I was the equivalent white person in my position I would have been dealt with in the same way.
“My experience of racism and institutional racism in particular has really been heightened due to what I’ve suffered with the hands of West Yorkshire Police.”
In a statement the force said: “We are aware of the circumstances of the case and have previously been engaged with the complainant. We have no further comment to make on the matter.”
An IOPC spokesperson said: “On receiving and recording a complaint, forces are required to consider whether it meets the mandatory criteria set out in law for a referral to the IOPC. We then carefully assess all referrals to determine whether an investigation may be required and, if so, who should carry this out.”
Two pro-Palestinian demonstrators have thrown red powder on Tower Bridge – just moments before leading runners in the London Marathon went past.
The protesters were arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance and remain in custody, said the Metropolitan Police.
A video shared by Youth Demand, which is calling for a trade embargo on Israel, shows two people jumping over a barrier that separates spectators from the race course.
The pair, wearing t-shirts that say “Youth Demand: Stop Arming Israel”, are then seen standing in the middle of the road on the bridge.
Pic: LNP
They throw red powder in the air as an official marathon car goes past displaying the race time.
A motorbike with a cameraman on board continues along the route, while a second motorbike stops and one of the riders gets off and pushes the pair out of the way, just before the men’s elite runners pass.
Several police officers then jump over the barrier and detain the pair, the footage shows.
There appeared to be no impact on the marathon.
More than 56,000 participants were expected to take part in the 26.2-mile race through the capital.
Sabastian Sawe of Kenya won the men’s elite race in a time of two hours, two minutes and 27 seconds, while Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa shattered the women’s-only world record in two hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds.
Assefa beat the previous best of two hours, 16 minutes and 16 seconds set last year in London by Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir.
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Pic: LNP
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: “At around 10.38am, two protesters from Youth Demand jumped over barriers at Tower Bridge and threw red paint on to the road.
“Marathon event staff intervened to remove the protesters from the path of the men’s elite race which was able to pass unobstructed.”
The force added that they were “quickly supported by police officers who arrested the protesters on suspicion of causing a public nuisance”.
The Met said the paint “appeared to be chalk-based” and was not expected to “present a hazard to runners yet to pass this point”.
Counter-terrorism police are investigating after an incident involving a crossbow and a firearm left two women injured in Leeds.
Police were called to Otley Road at 2.47pm on Saturday to reports of a “serious incident involving a man seen with weapons”, West Yorkshire Police said.
Officers arrived at the scene to find two women injured – and a 38-year-old man with a self-inflicted injury. All three were taken to hospital, with the man held under arrest, but their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
“Two weapons have been recovered from the scene, which were a crossbow and a firearm,” Counter Terrorism Policing North East said in a statement.
The incident happened on the ‘Otley Run’ pub crawl, with one venue saying it was closed for the evening due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
Officers guard one of the crime scenes
Officers inside the cordon in Leeds
Counter Terrorism Policing’s statement added: “Due to the circumstances surrounding the incident, Counter Terrorism Policing North East have taken responsibility for leading the investigation with the support of West Yorkshire Police.
“Extensive enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances and explore any potential motivation.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described it as a “serious violent incident” and said she was being kept updated by police.
“Thank you to the police and emergency services for their swift response,” she said. “My thoughts are with the victims and all those affected by this attack.”
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