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.
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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.”
