A POLICEMAN has been suspended and a deputy chief constable has
ordered a four-year-old case to be resubmitted to the procurator-fiscal
after a sheriff's ruling on a student who claimed he was beaten up by
police in a racist attack.
The sheriff awarded former Glasgow University student Aamer Anwar more
than #4000 damages against the police.
The incident took place in November 1991 and the ruling led to calls
for a change in the police complaints procedure from the Labour Party
and the Scottish Council for Civil Liberties.
Strathclyde's deputy chief constable James Richardson said last night
a 34-year-old constable had been suspended from duty.
Mr Anwar, 27, sued the chief constable for #15,000 in Scotland's first
civil action alleging a racist attack by police after his formal
complaint to the police failed.
Yesterday, in a written judgment, Sheriff George Evans awarded him
#4200, following the action at Glasgow Sheriff Court five months ago.
During the hearing, the court was told that Mr Anwar, an activist at
Glasgow University at the time, was arrested while illegally fly-posting
bills for a demonstration on student poverty due to be held the
following day.
He was chased and caught by Police Constable Graham McKee, who landed
on top of him.
In his judgment, Sheriff Evans found that Constable McKee had
deliberately assaulted Mr Anwar ''by pulling his head back and slamming
the bottom part of his face straight down on to the ground''.
As a result, Mr Anwar's two front teeth were chipped. PC McKee
repeated the action.
The sheriff said evidence from an independent witness that the officer
was taunting Mr Anwar tied in with what Mr Anwar said and reinforced the
impression of PC McKee showing racial bias and having made the remark
''this is what happens to black boys with big mouths''.
Mr Anwar, who now lives in Liverpool, had to take liquid food through
a straw, took to drink, missed lectures and tutorials, and lost over a
stone and a half in weight. He suffered from stress and panic attacks
and had nightmares and mood changes.
Sheriff Evans said the attack was an ''intentional wrong''.
He said Mr Anwar was entitled to damages but pointed out that
allegations of racism did not influence his findings.
''Mr Anwar has been categorised in press releases on his behalf as
'the young victim of racist violence by members of Strathclyde Police,
forced to rely on himself for bringing the offending parties to trial'
as though there was something unusual about an individual raising a
civil action to enforce his rights.
''This type of loaded confrontational material serves no good purpose
and has not influenced the outcome of the action in any way.''
He said the police evidence gave the impression of being ''stilted and
guarded'' and was ''too pat and with a false ring of injured surprise at
the scenario being put to them in cross examination.''
Mr Anwar said: ''I am delighted and very satisfied with the decision.
I only ever wanted justice and hope this sort of thing never happens
again.''
Ms Carole Ewart, director of the SCCL, said: ''We shall be calling for
a immediate review of the police complaints procedure in Scotland.''
Labour's Scottish Home Affairs spokesman, Mr John McFall, said:
''There is no doubt that a case like this shakes the public's confidence
in the police force.''
He said that although he was not suggesting this particular complaint
was not investigated properly, there should be an independent element in
police investigation procedures.
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