Police and Council institutional racism contributory factor in death of a refugee

racist racism

Institutional racism is still the scourge of the 21st century, in the UK. Unfortunately, there is nothing to suggest this will disappear anytime soon.

According to a media report, a 44-year old refugee was, murdered after being accused of being a paedophile, despite repeated calls to the Council and police. He was beaten unconscious, set alight for something that he never did.

Although one man has been, jailed for life and two police officers lost their jobs over the incident, it still leaves a bitter taste, knowing that a human being lost his life because of institutional racism.

A further report in the media suggests that an investigation by Safer Bristol Partnership found that there was a collective failure by the police and the council. Instead of treating the man as a victim he was seen as a perpetrator, abuse and mistreated five years before his death.

No amount of apology from these two bodies, in my opinion, is adequate for what they allowed to happen to this 44-year old refugee. Although both organisations accept the findings of the report and, believe they played a part in his death, nothing will change.

Institutional racism can only be defeated when it is, recognised as a problem by the local and central government. Hundreds of people face institutional racism on a daily basis, it prevents individuals from job promotion, targets minority groups, and the list goes on.

I am not holding my breath that this latest report from Bristol will make a difference, in my opinion, racism is rooted in the British institution. Hopefully, it will change one day, but not in, the near future.