Metropolitan Police HQ
Metropolitan Police officer Alex MacFarlane faces racism trial
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
1:25 PM
A Metropolitan Police officer faces charges of racially abusing a suspect during the aftermath of the London riots, it has been announced.
Pc Alex MacFarlane allegedly told a black man: “The problem with you is you will always be a n*****, yeah?”
The Crown Prosecution Service said today “sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction,” existed to proceed against the Scotland Yard officer.
Audio which allegedly shows Pc Macfarlane making the comments was captured by the victim; named as Mauro Demetrio, 21, from Beckton, east London.
He was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving on August 11 and later released without charge.
The decision to press charges was a U-turn by the CPS, which made the opposite decision in January.
“When a review shows a previous decision not to prosecute is wrong, it is open to the CPS to rectify that error by bringing new proceedings,” said Alison Saunders, chief prosecutor for London.
Metropolitan Police commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe welcomed the decision to prosecute a member of the force’s rank and file.
“We have to let the criminal case take its course,” he said.
“I’m glad that it will be tested in court.”
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