The police watchdog is to investigate another allegation of racist abuse at crisis-hit Forest Gate police station following a complaint made earlier this month.
The incident is alleged to have taken place on September 24 last year. It was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) by the Metropolitan Police.
It brings the number of current IPCC investigations into allegations of racist behaviour to five.
They include an allegation of racist language and assault against a 21-year-old man during the London riots on August 12, and an assault on a 15-year-old boy at Forest Gate police station on August 24.
An investigation has also been launched into allegations that racist comments were made within a group of Newham police officers. Three were suspended as a result.
IPCC commissioner Mike Franklin said: “The IPCC is investigating a number of these cases – but IPCC investigations are not and will never be the only answer.
“We know that allegations of racism are often difficult to prove as in many cases they are a complainant’s word against an officer or officers, but that does not necessarily mean it did not happen,”
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