Merseyside Police called ‘institutionally racist’ after armed officers stop two innocent Black men

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A police force has been accused of being ‘institutionally racist’ after footage emerged of armed officers aiming guns at two young innocent Black men.

Merseyside Police is defending the action taken by the officers on the street in Toxteth, Liverpool, and says body worn camera footage shows the stoppage was “justified and appropriate”.

Footage emerged of the incident which showed two young man being stopped officers aimed assault rifles directly at them.

The force says it was responding to reports a man had been seen carrying a gun at around 9.30pm on Monday, 27 June, and one of the men, on Mulgrave Street, matched a description officers had been given.

The video has caused anger and upset in Liverpool.

Kim Johnson, the MP for the area and also Liverpool’s first Black MP, says the “profiling and scapegoating” of Black men by police needed to change.

“Seeing the video of the stop on Mulgrave Street, I thought I was witnessing an incident on the streets of America, not Liverpool,” she said.

“The firearms teams, the handcuffing of two young black men who were innocent of any offence.

“Yet another time when ‘you matched the description’ was used by the police to intimidate and harass Black men for being Black; yet another time Merseyside police have left young Black people scared and traumatized.

“This is why I say they are institutionally racist and it is this profiling and scapegoating that needs to change, and change now.

“I have written to the Chief Constable to ask her what action she is taking.”

Merseyside Police pointed guns at two innocent black men in Liverpool Credit: Liverpool Echo

Merseyside Police says its officers carried out the stop and search “in line with training and procedures”.

Superintendent Diane Pownall said: “Shortly after 9.15pm last night members of the public called us to report they had seen a man carrying a handgun at the junction of Princes Road and North Hill Street and he then tucked it in to his waist band.

“As with any reports of somebody being armed with a firearm, armed response officers were authorized and deployed to the area.

“They saw two men on nearby Mulgrave Street, one of whom matched the physical description of the person and was wearing clothing that matched the clothing described.

Again, in line with training and procedures the officers carried out an armed stop. Due to the report that a man had been seen with a firearm, handcuffs were used during the search.

“Having viewed body worn footage of the incident we can say that officers explained to both men why they had been stopped and the reason for the search and both men were co-operative.

“Nothing was found on either of the men and no further action was taken.

“At the end of the search officers double checked that the men understood why the search had taken place and were advised on how to make a complaint if they felt the need to do so, but neither of the men indicated that they wished to make a lament.”

The force said that having viewed the body worn footage and given the information received from the public it believes the stop search was “justified and appropriate”.

Superintendent Pownall added: We understand the footage of armed officers stopping men on the street can look quite intimidating, but where we have reports of people armed with guns the safety of the public is our paramount concern.

“I have been in touch with our local Councilors and Kim Johnson, MP, who have raised concerns about the armed stop and have invited them to a meeting with myself and area Inspector Dave Uren, so that we can explain what the officers were responding to and why the approach they took was required, whilst at the same time listen to their concerns.”

The officers were filmed as they stopped the two innocent Black men on the Toxteth street. Credit: Liverpool Echo

The video has prompted upset within the Liverpool 8 community, where Toxteth is based.

Liverpool-based Kaalmo Youth Development group, which promotes the development of young Somali people, tweeted: “An incident has happened where two young individuals were harassed by the police on Mulgrave Street.

“Where reports stated that they were armed and later claimed it was mistaken identity. No apologies where given. When would this end?”

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