Metropolitan Police officer Alex MacFarlane faces racism trial
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.
Most Read
- 1 Reward offered to trace Maryland fatal stabbing 'suspect'
- 2 Man suffers leg wound in Beckton stabbing
- 3 Councils get cash to tackle chewing gum on high streets
- 4 Leyton Orient 'don't really need' Forest Green Rovers cup tie says Wellens
- 5 Biggest 'shooting star' meteor shower to peak this week
- 6 Extreme heat: Met Office issues warning as temperatures set to soar
- 7 Hundreds of children strip searched by Met Police
- 8 Jailed: Eight east London offenders locked up in July
- 9 Ex-nurse laid decomposing 'on display' after Met Police searches missed body in flat
- 10 Coroner slams 'scandalous' failures after woman laid dead for two years
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.”
