n 1: After the Riots

12.10.12

n 1: After the Riots: Every time I left my house there’d be a police van waiting on that street, about nine or ten police officers waiting in the van. I’d be on my own, walking down the street, and they’d shout, “Oi, you, come here!” And I’d be going, oh no, they’re on me again. I know they do good work, I’ve mixed with some police officers when I was working in the community. But I do know a majority of them are corrupt. I see that all the time.

One day—this was in 1984—I heard footsteps behind me and two of them grabbed me from behind and pulled me back. They said, “Didn’t you hear us calling you?” They said they were going to charge me with possession and resisting arrest. All a lie. They didn’t give me bail. I was held on remand until it went to court. Nine police officers against me, and I got found not guilty. When I stood up in court—I told the story like I told you—the judge stopped me halfway through, he told the jury to be dismissed, and he looked at me, and he said something like, I advise you to get a proper solicitor and make a complaint against these nine officers. That’s when I knew there was something wrong with the whole system. I didn’t know police officers could stand up in court under oath and lie like that.