Black inspector sues Met police after being stopped by white officers on his way home from work
'I feel I was pulled over for no other reason than the fact that they’d seen a black man driving a car', inspector says
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Your support makes all the difference.A black metropolitan police inspector is suing the force after being stopped by two white officers as he drove home.
Charles Ehikoya driving home from work in south London when he was stopped on 23 May, with officers telling him he had been pulled over due to his speed and because "it looked like he had gone through a red light".
However Mr Ehikoya, who told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he filmed the stop on his phone after seeing one of the officer’s body-worn camera did not have a recording light on, says he believes the stop was racially motivated.
“I feel I was pulled over for no other reason than the fact that they’d seen a black man driving a car” he said. “I just feel they’ve done this because I’m black”.
The 22-year veteran of the force said he was asked for his driving licence as well as proof that he was insured to drive the car, that the vehicle had not been stolen, that he was not intoxicated and that he not been using his phone.
He added that despite having been followed by the officers on an allegation of speeding, they could not tell him how fast he had reportedly been driving - and that the officers had accused him of being obstructive.
"These were alleged offences that could have ended my whole career”, he told the broadcaster, adding "I believed I was racially profiled and received no apology.
"I have kids and a grandson, I would not want them treated like this."
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement it had received an internal complaint on May 24 but a review "found no evidence of misconduct".
They added that no action was taken against the inspector as a result of the stop.
The stop was revealed just days after the force faced public scrutiny after Labour MP Dawn Butler claimed she was racially profiled when she and a black friend were pulled over by officers while driving in Hackney, east London.
At the time Deputy Commissioner Sir Steve House complained officers had faced "trial by social media" following the incident.
Additional reporting by PA.
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