West Midlands officer also asks man if he is going to ‘go all Black Lives Matter’ in footage posted on Facebook

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A West Midlands police officer has been removed from frontline duties after he was filmed telling a black man: “You’d be the first one I’d shoot if I had a gun.”

The video, which was posted on Facebook, also showed the officer asking the man if he was “going to go Black Lives Matter” on the patrol team.

West Midlands police said its professional standards department had opened an investigation into the incident, which took place during a search of a premises in Coventry on 24 August.

The force said it had received an official complaint and referred the matter to the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The assistant chief constable Alex Murray said: “What was said was not right and the officer has been removed from frontline duties pending further assessment. The officer has already expressed remorse and is very apologetic over his comments.

“We expect the highest standards of behaviour from all our officers and staff, and we will always take complaints from members of the public seriously.”

The footage starts by showing officers talking to a man, named locally as Jack Chambers, 24, who is sitting down and smoking.

One officer asks Chambers why he did not open the door to let the police in, to which he replies: “Because I was fucking half asleep ... I didn’t know who you was and you were climbing up the window like thieves.”

Chambers then says: “Police? That’s even worse. I’ve been seeing all kinds of videos, I have.”

One officer is then heard to say: “You’re going to go Black Lives Matter on us, are ya?” Chambers replies: “Yeah” and laughter is heard. The officer then responds: “You would be the first one I would shoot if I had a gun, definitely.”

Chambers replies: “Oh, fucking hell.” The officer appears unaware that the exchange is being recorded.

Desmond Jaddoo, a Birmingham-based community activist, called for the officer to be removed from duty. He said: “My concern as an activist is, taking into account the current climate and deaths in custody and also community relations, this goes no way in building trust and confidence with the police.

“I would also say, I see this not being a hate crime but other criminality. As far as I’m concerned these are serious matters. Police officers are there to set an example. Their behaviour must be beyond reproach.



“You don’t not make flippant statements about serious issues which affect communities. This is not locker room banter.”