Sarwar ‘blown away’ by Police Scotland chief’s admission on tradition inside pressure
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cottish Labour chief Anas Sarwar has stated he was “blown away” by the admission from Police Scotland’s chief constable that the pressure is institutionally racist and discriminatory.
Speaking to the PA news company on Friday as he campaigned with Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer in Rutherglen, Mr Sarwar stated the assertion have to be step one in direction of change.
Addressing a gathering of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) on Thursday, Sir Iain Livingstone stated: “It is right for me, the right thing for me to do as chief constable, to clearly state that institutional racism, sexism, misogyny and discrimination exist.
“Police Scotland is institutionally racist and discriminatory.”
Responding to the assertion, Mr Sarwar stated: “It blew me away actually, to be honest, because I didn’t expect him to make that statement.
“The reason why I say that is I’ve campaigned on racism and prejudice and hate for a number of years, as have many other colleagues from across different political parties, and actually to hear that very bold intervention from the chief constable, I think is a game-changer for us in Scotland.
“But it’s only going to deliver change if people action upon those words he said.”
Asked what motion he wish to see, Mr Sarwar stated step one was the “realisation of the problem” – which he added Sir Iain had accomplished on Thursday.
Mr Sarwar went on: “Secondly, it’s empowering and resourcing individuals, that means those within the police who face discrimination, to have the confidence to speak over the discrimination they face.”
He additionally urged officers to “build a partnership” between communities and the police service.
“Policing only works by consent, it only works if you’re seen as partners with communities rather than opponents of communities,” he stated.
Sir Keir, who beforehand served as director of public prosecutions south of the border and labored intently with the police throughout that point, stated Sir Iain’s feedback had been “significant”.
Speaking in Rutherglen on Friday, Sir Keir stated: “I think it’s a good thing that we can now have an open discussion about the structural issues that underpin what was said yesterday.
“Responsibility lies with the Scottish Parliament in relation to oversight, and I think there are now questions for them as to why it’s got to this stage and why this wasn’t dealt with earlier on.”
Oversight of Police Scotland is basically undertaken by the SPA, though some enter comes from ministers, Parliament and different our bodies.