Racism in the police is not a far away issue belonging to the US. It has a long history here in the UK. 

In 1981 the Brixton riots were a response to disproportionate and violent policing of Afro-Caribbean communities, and the increased use of police stop and search.

A decade later the Institute of Race Relations published a groundbreaking report –  Deadly Silence – which explores 75 black deaths in custody.

Just two years after that  – in 1993 – teenager Stephen Lawrence was killed in a racially motivated attack by a white gang in southeast London.

It took 19 years for two members of the gang to be charged with his murder. A public inquiry concluded that the failings of the Metropolitan Police to investigate amounted to institutional racism.

In this episode, we look at what The Sheku Bayoh Inquiry has heard so far about racism and attitudes to race. And we hear what expert witness have said about how how viewing the incident on 3 May 2015 as a medical emergency, could have changed the course of events.

This podcast was written and produced by Karin Goodwin

Research by Tomiwa Folorunso

Recording, editing & sound design by Halina Rifai

Original music by Alan Bryden

Listen to all the evidence from the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry, or find out how to get a ticket to attend in person, at www.shekubayohinquiry.scot

To make this podcast we’re spent hours listening to all of the evidence so we can summarise it for you, our listeners. And we need your support to do more. 

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