Back in October 2014, my client, Steven Williams, a young black man was walking along Ealing Broadway having been for a haircut, when he was stopped by two Police Officers of Metropolitan Police.
One Officer said that Steven had been stopped because he was suspected of following another police officer from Ealing Police Station earlier that day.
Steven, who had never been in trouble with the Police, was shocked at the allegation and said that he had not followed anyone. He told the officers confronting him that they were in fact the first police officers he had seen all day.
One Officer nevertheless conducted a pat-down search and asked Steven for his name and address. Steven found the request intrusive but provided the information as requested.
The Officer then said that Steven “looked suspicious” and that he thought Steven was “linked to something that had happened earlier on”.
Steven told the officers where he had been and what he had been doing over the course of the day.
The Officer then asked Steven if he knew “what had been happening on the news as regards to terrorism”. Steven replied, “No.”
The Officer said, “Anyone seen acting suspiciously outside a police station is treated very seriously as the police are on red alert.” Steven replied, “I was just going home.”
The Officer then repeated the suggestion that a police officer had been followed outside a police station and implied that Steven was the person who had followed this police officer.
It subsequently transpired that a PCSO had earlier that day reported that she had been followed from the Police station by two black males and then several hours later, another Police Officer had left the Police Station and reported that he had been followed by Steven.
Steven again denied the allegation and questioned why he would do such a thing. Steven reiterated that he had simply been on his way home.
More Police Officers, both uniformed and plain-clothed, joined the first 2 Officers on the scene.
Steven was confused and shocked about what was happening to him.
Steven also felt embarrassed as members of the public were staring at him as he was being questioned by the police.
Steven was eventually informed by one of the Officers that he had called for a Sergeant to come down and speak to Steven. The Officer said that the Sergeant was on his way.
Steven, who had been compliant throughout, felt increasingly worried and victimised.
After what felt to Steven like 15 minutes, the Sergeant finally arrived on the scene. The Sergeant spoke with some of the Officers, before approaching Steven.
The Sergeant asked Steven for his name and whether he had his passport on him, where he had been that day, and where he had been going when stopped by the police. Steven answered the Sergeant’s questions and explained that he did not have his passport on him.
The Sergeant then said to Steven, “I don’t believe you and your story.” The Sergeant then asked Steven if he was “selling drugs”.
Steven, as a young Black man, immediately felt that he had been stereotyped, targeted and racially discriminated against. This new accusation clearly had nothing to do with the original allegation that Steven had been following a Police Officer. Steven replied, “No.”
A decision was made to arrest Steven and he was handcuffed to the rear.
One of the Officers told Steven he was “under arrest for suspicion of harassment”.
Steven was shocked, distressed and angry. He could not understand how the position had seemingly changed from an allegation of following a Police Officer, to being questioned about terrorism and drugs, to an arrest for harassment.
Steven was then transported to Acton Police Station where he was processed and then subjected to a strip search.
Steven understandably felt extremely embarrassed, humiliated and degraded by this experience; like many people who experience a Police strip-search, he felt as though he was deliberately being stripped of his dignity as well as his clothes.
Steven was taken from the room and had his DNA, fingerprints and photograph taken.
After a few hours in the cell, Steven was brought out for interview during which he answered all questions put to him including questions about his views on the Police and his views on Syria.
Steven was then kept in custody overnight before finally being released the next day.
On arrival home, Steven discovered from members of his family that the Police had attended the premises whilst he was at the Police Station and had searched his bedroom.
A few days later, two Officers attended Steven’s home to return his phone. He was told that the Police knew he was “not a terrorist” and that his bail had been “lifted”.
Steven subsequently filed a complaint. Following investigation, his complaint was dismissed. He appealed to the Independent Police “Watchdog” the IPCC. The IPCC rejected his appeal. They concluded that the stop was justified given the context (i.e. the then terrorist threat level) and the Officers’ allegations of being followed.
On Steven’s behalf I brought a claim against the Metropolitan Police. Following investigation, the Met denied liability and it was necessary to issue court proceedings. Shortly before trial, settlement terms were agreed with Steven receiving substantial damages and his legal costs.
Names changed.
