One of Britain's top police officers has defended 'taking the knee' after becoming the first chief constable to make the gestu...
One of Britain's top police officers has defended 'taking the knee' after becoming the first chief constable to make the gesture since Black Lives Matter protests began.
Alan Pughsley of Kent Police said it was an 'act of humility' at the event in Gravesend, while other officers also joined the socially distanced group of more than 50 people.
The gathering last Thursday came after George Floyd died in Minneapolis on May 25 after officer Derek Chauvin pressed his leg into his neck for almost nine minutes.
Kent Police has now come out in defence of its £212,000-a-year chief constable's actions following a backlash from former officers on social media.
It also comes after Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick instructed officers not to kneel during protests - something that has become a symbol of solidarity with activists in the US after the death of 46-year-old black man Mr Floyd.
Kent Police chief constable Alan Pughsley 'takes the knee' with Black Lives Matter protesters in Gravesend last Thursday during an event to show solidarity after the death of George Floyd
Alan Pughsley of Kent Police said it was an 'act of humility' at the event in Gravesend last week
Nick Scott, of Medway, who was also in the Coldstream Guards, said: 'As a retired Kent Police Officer I'm ashamed by the actions of this current chief constable.'
And Andy Capp added: 'I'm now embarrassed that I was a police officer for 30 years. The shame that this brings upon the police service should not be under-estimated.'
But speaking after the event last Thursday, Mr Pughsley, who has been in his role since 2014, said: 'It was important to me for us to take part in this show of solidarity.
'We at Kent Police stand with all those who are horrified at the manner in which George Floyd lost his life. It is right there is accountability and justice should follow. I am fortunate to lead a force whose officers share my passion and pride in policing.
'I am extremely proud of this and our communities can be confident we listen, we work with them to solve problems and we are accountable for the service we provide. We are never complacent and always strive to be better.'
And a force spokesman said: 'Kent Police understands the depth of feeling from people around the world following the abhorrent death of George Floyd in America.
'We stand beside those who are horrified by the manner in which he died and it is important that accountability and justice follow.
'Our officers have spent years building lasting relationships with our diverse communities and it is only natural they should want to show their respects.
Kent Police has come out in defence of its £212,000-a-year chief constable's actions last week
'We all lead by example and treat everybody with fairness, respect and dignity, irrespective of who they are.
'Taking the knee is an act of humility and officers are supported in doing this where appropriate and safe to do so, without compromising on the service we provide to the public.
'Kent Police has been making contact with various diverse communities which make up the county, to provide reassurance and listen to their concerns following the protests in the wake of this tragic death.
'It is vital we maintain the trust and confidence that we believe our communities in Kent have in us as a police force.
'As part of that reassurance and in line with duties and key responsibilities as essential workers, the Chief Constable and other officers have attended some events in person.
'During attendance social distancing measures have been adhered to wherever possible, and where those measures have not been possible, health and hygiene precautions have been taken.
'The Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable both attended an event on Thursday, June 4 which was organised by the Kent Equality Cohesion Council and North Kent Caribbean Network to bring community members together to remember and reflect on the tragic death of Mr Floyd in Minneapolis.'
Avon and Somerset Police chief Andy Marsh said he would support officers taking the knee before the statue of slave trader Edward Colston was torn down in Bristol.
Police Scotland assistant chief constable Kenny McDonald also agreed that officers would be permitted to perform the gesture.
Some Metropolitan Police officers were pictured joining kneeling protesters during demonstrations over the past week in London.
It comes after Britain's top Asian police officer has advocated police 'taking the knee' saying it is a 'powerful symbol of challenge and hope'.
Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, who is the head of counter terrorism in the UK, sent out a message to all Scotland Yard officers saying Britain is riddled with 'racial bias' which he said was 'built into the very fabric of our institutions and society'.
The top officer, who is of Indian heritage, also spoke about the 'huge disparity in young black men in the criminal justice system'.
Mr Basu wrote: 'Taking the knee was and is a powerful symbol of challenge and hope, and I was moved to see some of our officers doing so, personally I see this as a time to stand up- stand up to racists, to inequality and injustice.'
He spoke out after a line of officers knelt in front of protestors outside Downing Street last week.
Yesterday more than 600 officers had commented on Mr Basu's message on an internal forum, with a number of officers as senior as superintendents objecting to making the gesture with one asking: 'What has this got to do with us in Britain?'
When Dame Cressida was asked if she would not take the knee, she said: 'No, I wouldn't and I have asked my officers not to.
'Our job is to police, I do see that in private life or in some other situations that it might be something somebody wants to do - I completely understand that - but not when you're are policing a protest.'
She told LBC: 'I saw officers kneeling on the television in our control room and I understood - although I was not right near them - why they might have done that.
Metropolitan Police officers take a knee at a Black Lives Matter protest in London on June 3
'However, in a public order situation and when you are a policing a crowd, when you're in an operational situation, however heartfelt something like that might be, I have said that I don't think it is likely to be safe, it's not the right thing to do for our public that you are trying to keep safe, the protesters that you're trying to keep safe, your colleagues and yourself.'
Yesterday Mr Basu suggested Black, Asian and ethnic minority people had been 'disproportionately affected by the way we have policed lockdown rules' after analysis showed that people from the BAME community in England were 54 per cent more likely to be fined than white people for flouting the lockdown.
He wrote: 'What we are seeing in America, and here in the UK too is anger directed not just at police brutality but the racial bias built into the very fabric of our institutions and society- perhaps best illustrated in the UK by the huge disparity in young black men in the criminal justice system.
American football player Colin Kaepernick started the 'take a knee' movement in the NFL in 2016 - and it has become a symbol of anger and solidarity against racism across the world
'Meanwhile recent reports describe how BAME communities are not only more likely to die as a result of Covid- 19, they have also been disproportionately affected by the way we have policed lockdown rules.
'This disparity is seen in education, in health, in the workplace- it's everywhere and it's a daily lived experience for many.
'So let us view the legitimate anger, manifesting itself now in different ways, with nuance and care.
'Yes some people behave badly, yes a tiny minority are no more than criminal opportunists, but the overwhelming majority are showing solidarity with George.'
Yesterday some officers expressed surprise that Mr Basu did not think to mention his 49 colleagues injured in the race protests over the weekend.
Former Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent Dai Davies said: 'What about those officers who were injured dealing with protestors?
'Where is his empathy for those officers who were sent out ill-equipped to engage with violent demonstrators?
'Police should always remain neutral, whatever their sympathies.'
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