George Floyd death: UK police ‘horrified’ by homicide and violence in US

Britain’s police are horrified by the violence and destruction in the US and top officers’ hearts go out to “all those affected by these terrible events”.

Chief constables of forces from across the UK have released a joint statement saying: “We stand alongside all those across the globe who are appalled and horrified by the way George Floyd lost his life.
“Justice and accountability should follow.”

They highlighted the “long-established tradition of policing by consent” in the UK and added: “We will tackle bias, racism or discrimination wherever we find it.”

It must be pointed out however that the UK record is far from satisfactory and requires much more openness and improvement.

Police acknowledged the right to lawful protest being a “key part of any democracy, which UK police uphold and facilitate”, but said restrictions are still in place to curb the spread of coronavirus, meaning no more than six people in a group can gather outside.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said she recognised that “feelings are running higher in London” and wanted to reassure the public that officers will “continue with our tradition of policing using minimum force necessary”.

She said police would be listening and responding to concerns “fairly and with courage and compassion”.
“Our job is to prevent violence and keep people safe”, Commissioner Dick added.
George Floyd, a 46-year-old black American, died after a white policeman knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 25 May, reigniting the explosive issue of police brutality against African Americans.

An anti-racism campaign group is now urging Britons to “take the knee” on their doorsteps for a socially distanced protest in solidarity with US protesters.
Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) has organised the protest for 6pm on Wednesday as part of a day of action against discrimination in response to Floyd’s death.
It said the campaign was inspired by the kneeling protest staged by Colin Kaepernick in 2016, which has since become synonymous with the Black Lives Matter movement.

A separate protest in London’s Hyde Park is planned for 1pm today as well as South Park in Oxford.
A further demonstration is planned for 1pm on Saturday in Parliament Square, London.
Hundreds of people gathered outside St George’s Hall in Liverpool on Tuesday as part of a separate Black Lives Matter protest.

And on Sunday, thousands of demonstrators flouted social distancing regulations to gather in Trafalgar Square, central London, for a Kneel for Floyd protest, while hundreds marched through Peckham and Brixton in south London on Monday.