Adam Fresco, Crime Correspondent
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The Black Police Association is refusing to hold any further talks with the Met’s new leadership about a planned ethnic community boycott of the force after an initial meeting ended in rancour.
Discussions between the two groups broke down on Tuesday after allegations that “inappropriate language” was used by a senior Scotland Yard official.
The meeting is said to have gone downhill after Martin Tiplady, the Met’s Director of Human Resources, used the phrase “you people” while he was trying to broker a working agreement with the BPA.
Sir Paul Stephenson, the Deputy Commissioner, who is the acting head of the Met after Sir Ian Blair was ousted last week, had called the emergency meeting to try and resolve issues and stop the boycott from taking place.
But a senior source at the BPA told The Times today that “everything has broken down - a complete disengagement has taken place”.
The source added: “The person was confronted about his language and everything then broke down. We will not talk to the acting commissioner or engage with him.”
The BPA has claimed that, despite its new leadership, the Met was marked by “a hostile atmosphere where racism is allowed to spread”.
Senior members of the BPA met on Tuesday night after the Met talks and said they felt they were being “coerced and pressured” into stopping their boycott.
A letter is expected to be in the Deputy Commissioner’s in-tray tomorrow morning informing him of the BPA’s decision. The association said it will now only talk to the inquiry being set up by Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, to investigate alleged racism inside the force.
In the letter to Mr Stephenson the BPA say that it will not meet him “in any shape or form”.
A senior source at the BPA told The Times: “We are saying ’we do not want to meet or have any sort of negotiations with you in any shape or form. The boycott stands and the advertisements will go out.”
The source added: “We will not meet or negotiate with the Met because there is a lot of pressure being put on us to remove the boycott, trying to coerce us. We will give our submissions to the inquiry being set up by Boris Johnson.
“Mr Stephenson will be put on notice today of what is happening by way of a letter.”
A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan police said: “The MPS can confirm that a meeting took place on Tuesday 7 October at our invitation, as we are keen to seek a way forward in relation to any concerns raised by the MBPA. As is normal, detailed minutes were taken and for clarification, the Director of Human Resources, Martin Tiplady said: “With or without an Inquiry, let's work with you people to make it (the MPS) a better organisation and return to normality.” Clearly no offence was intended by this statement and merely referred to the working relationship between the MPS and the Association. We are intent that we continue to make efforts to see a way forward with cool heads, appropriate language and cooperation.”
On Sunday, the BPA attacked both the senior management of the Met and the Metropolitan Police Association, now chaired by Mr Johnson, for not doing enough to stop racism and for not protecting its members. The association told the Times that it will take out a series of adverts in the national press during Black History Month warning any potential black or Asian recruits not to join the Met .
Mr Stephenson recently told Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, who has accused the organisation of racism, to “shut up” and get on with his job after the force’s most senior Asian officer held a press conference to publicise his intention to pursue an employment tribunal.
A spokesman for the BPA said: “We will not put up or shut up to racism and inequality.”
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Clearly this emotional contagion is spiralling downwards preventing people who are mandated to bring resolution and stability to an already fraught situation. There is never a justifiable gain in point scoring when the impact on service delivery is in jeopardy.
Separation or Magnanimity? The latter
Tod O'Brien, York, UK
This, I suspect, is only the beginning. BPA have segregated themselves but object to the phrase 'you people'! It is commonly used. What cloistered lives they must lead, 'these people' who have set themselves apart as a 'special' category.
Ring any bells? Take a look at your local Islamabad.
Katherine, Cork,
What is wrong with "you people"? The phrase was referring to a self-proclaimed group, the BPA, who are playing at race politics to benefit only themselves, not the MET. Let them boycott and take on those who apply that can pass the entrance tests regardless of colour. That really is non-racial.
B J Deller, Marbella, Spain
Umbelievable! Working for the Metropolitan Police is an amazing oportunity to do good. People applying should be absolutly commited and should feel that upholding the law and helping the community is key. It sounds like some 'people' have forgotten this.
Martin, London,
Lets hope Boris has the intelligence to take into consideration that the BPA and its representatives are only interested in lowering the standards of the Met and moulding it to suit their needs. Even using dodgy lawers and MPs.
It is time for soft touch Britain to get real.
Ed.James, lancashire, uk (gods country)
Let the boycott go ahead this will show the People of London where the loyalties of a proportion on the Met lie. Certainly not in the equal enforcement of of the Law.
As I have understood it a coppers job is to 'Keep the Queen's Peace' fairly and without favour.
Can I any longer trust the Met?
Howard , Basildon, England
Clearly the MET has not yet learnt the lessons of how to engage with different parts of British society. Coming from the HR director is even more shocking. Sack him, pronto.
Aleem, London, UK
One more example of political correctness gone mad.The country's down the drain.
Alan, Leatherhead , UK
The Black Police Association is a nasty organisation and should be disbanded immediately.
Adrian Butterworth, London, England
Any policeman who is involved in posting advertisements urging people not to join his force, should be sacked for activity that tends to bring his force into disrepute.
Thomas Goodey, Cuxton-upon-Medway, England
"you people"? 'You people'? They're having a meeting to try and sort out racism in the force and the man they chose for the job, the guy who was supposedly to sort out this schism, uses the phrase 'you people'? For god's sake, the met deserve everything they get from this one. Endemic racism.
Erik Pan, Sheffield,
This is absolutely absurd! I agree with the above - anyone available to catch real criminals? I am starting as a police officer imminently but hope to never become involved with the politics! The BPA AND OTHERS do need to shut up and get on with their jobs; that is catching criminals!
Aaron, Bristol,
We should scrap all these ethnic minority organisations like the BPA. They are a farcical, racist and blinkered to reality in most cases. They are also completely unecessary, a waste of money and do far more harm than good.
John, London, England
Sack all the BPA for disaffection - a clear offence against the Police Act 1997. Someone have the bottle to purge London of these leeches
Steve, Welwyn, Herts
This is ridiculous. They have taken on the title The Black Police Association because they see themselves as a different entity within the MET. However the rest of the force aren't allowed to view them as a separate entity at a high level meeting like this.
Get some backbone guys!
Ryan, London, UK
Anyone spare some time to catch a few thieves now and then?
colin, Shrewsbury UK,