Women with buggy could be vital to investigation into police racism claims
Tuesday 20th September 2011, 2:29PM BST.
Circled are the two women with a buggy who police would like to talk to about an allegation of racism by a police officer which occurred in an incident near the new Marks & Spencer building minutes later.
TWO women could hold information that is key to an investigation into alleged racist abuse by three police officers.
The professional standards department, which deals with complaints against officers and upholds the integrity of Guernsey Police, is hoping the pair could help with allegations that while questioning a black islander, one officer referred to him as ‘boy’.
DI Perry Spivey said the women were seen pushing a buggy passed the scene near the new Marks & Spencer building at around 11.30pm on Saturday.
‘The women may have witnessed something that might help us establish what happened,’ he said.
- Read the full story in the Guernsey Press. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.
- To read Guernsey Press stories in full click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.
Island Life
All about Guernsey
Ambassador of the Year 2011
History & Heritage
Visitor Information
Guernsey's government
Campaigns
Voice For Victims
Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.
This is Guernsey
Guernsey Press
Useful Links
Am I missing something here..? One officer referred to him as ‘boy’. Why is this racist? I am confused.
Report abuse
CoboTop – Apparently has something to do with the term ‘boy’ being a deragotary term with it’s history being that it is racist to use the term ‘boy’ when referring to a black person, especially in America, as it is referenced back to the slave trade. Basically the complaint is that the police officer concerned was treating the person concerned as ‘lower’ than he was. I hope that helps.
Report abuse
A child in a buggy being pushed around town at 11.30pm???? REALLY???
Report abuse
Muhamed Ali nearly bopped Bert Newton In Oz because of the same remark made at the Emmys/logies wot ever, lucky Bert did some fast back tracking and Ali took it with a pinch of salt with many many apologies
Report abuse
I remember Cassius Clay being visibly shocked when a British TV interviewer commenting on a greyhound race asked him if he thought the ‘bitch’ had a good chance of winning
Some words are taken to mean different things in different countries but I do know that to refer to a coloured gentleman as ‘boy’ is not on
By the way,rather than trying to find two women with a pushchair shouldn’t DI Perry Spivey be putting out an appeal for the coloured gentleman to make contact?
Report abuse
Glad someone else noticed too, Sapphire. My lot would have been asleep for four and a half hours by then!
Report abuse
Sapphire – Why the shock? Sure, maybe some poor kid was being dragged round town when it shouldn’t have been. But then maybe it was just a baby who wouldn’t sleep, and they lived in Town? Sometimes its best not to jump to conclusions.
Report abuse
Have they tried sticking up a poster in the benefits office? I can’t think who else would be traipsing around all night with babies.
Report abuse
Mark,Guernsey is not America ! Here where I live the word “Boy” describes a young male.I think you would agree that some adults act like young boys and need to be reminded of that fact.
Report abuse
Ray – the use of the term “coloured gentleman” is equally unacceptable. The man is of a particular race (the article says that he is black) and if we need to describe his race we should use the correct description, not use a term which applies to everyone except caucasians.
Report abuse
The difference is this is Guernsey 2011..not the Deep South of America 1960′s. Whilst there are distinct racist undertones in the speech and mentality of a certain intellect of people on this island, their is little (serious) racial hatred. Certainly the policeman whom called the man “boy” should be reprimanded, but only for being disrespectful to a member of the public. I know racism when I hear and see it and this is no where near a racist incident. Frankly it is a ridiculous story, silly season anybody?
Report abuse
It is inappropriate to comment that a certain term is not offensive to a section of society unless you are a member of that section.
What bloody cheek for a white person to state that the term ‘boy’ is not offensive to a black person.
Report abuse
Thanks Terry
It’s like treading on eggshells out there
I presume then that if the man was not really black we’d have to describe him as dark brown,medium brown or light brown? … the sort of healthy shade every white person strives to be either through natural sunbathing or via expensive sunbed hire
Report abuse
rocquaine, I feel I must protest that the phrase ‘bloody cheek’ is highly inappropriate when used by anybody not suffering the humiliation, shame and embarassment of this unfortunate affliction. True, my last ‘shaving whilst hung over’ incident was some years ago but I would have been hugely upset had anybody shouted “oy, bloody cheek” at me. It is high time that ‘cheekism’ is added to our bulging statute book. How much for a test case please, Advocate Ferbrache?
Report abuse
G4d, don’t be so naive!
Report abuse
Thanks for the clarification Mark. Still seems a little far fetched to me. But, I suppose I was not there so cannot comment on the way it was said.
Report abuse
Ray
Your a classic you really are :)
Terry
Looking forward to your response.
Report abuse
After having dealings with police professional standards departement i would not waste your time
making a complaint. Just another wing of the police which takes there side but tries to make it look like there doing something another waste of tax payers money
Report abuse
bcb – I suspect that I had bitten one more time than I should have done, and so will leave it there!
Report abuse
It used to be the norm for us good old Guern’s to call all Portuguese “Pork and Cheese”. I suppose that is now considered a racist remark and I wouldn’t think it a horrible term to use now. I still think that to use the word “boy” in a condescending way to anyone, is wrong – and the police officers should know better. Thousands of pounds are spent on their “development” – or should that be “evolvolution” from neanderthal to Police Officer (enough said), so why do they still get it wrong.
Buggys on the street at 11.30 p.m? not able to sleep? don’t make me laugh. Those little children should be tucked up in bed hours earlier whether or not the mothers find this a bit of an inconvenience…..
Report abuse
I realise from reading my last message that I have left out a few words so it looks as though I would agree with the words “Pork and Cheese” being used against Portuguese. Obviously that is not what I intended, and I consider any racist language to be abhorrent.
Report abuse
I did think also what is a child in a buggy doing out at 11.30pm NOT GOOD.
Report abuse
child in a buggy doing out at 11.30pm
I think this attitude of a few of you on here just proves you are all school children.
Anyone who has had children knows the benefits of walking their kids. Yes even late at night, it helps the gently off to sleep if you did not know and we have done this many times just before bed ourselves. Albeit that was a few years ago now.
The evening is not just for thugs.
Report abuse
Perhaps the Policeman was referring to the baby in the pram ?
Report abuse
@Just Me, yes – there are benefits of walking kids. But not at 11.30pm past drinkers outside busy bars. Just look at the picture.
The evening is not for thugs, you are correct. The middle of the night is not for walking children and babies.
Report abuse
I always enjoy comments from the “don’t jump to conclusions” crowd. In virtually every case the obvious conclusion turns out to be correct. Such as the young man driving a kevmobile a few months ago who ran the elderly lady off the road and nearly killed her. Plenty of unkind and downright rude posts at the time said it was bound to be the old lady’s fault. Then, predictably, ‘kev’ was proven guilty in court.
Yes, this could turn out to be a diligent young mum (and her friend) who thinks trundling nippers around town at 11.30 on Saturday night is the best way to make them sleep. Probably not though.
Report abuse
Perhaps the PC was talking to the child in the buggy
Report abuse
Just me
I understand that kids cry and sometimes you take them out for a drive or a walk to get them off to sleep, but I just would not walk them around town when you know you may come across some drunks. That’s the way I feel Im was not saying she is a bad mother as I have done this before myself but not around town and would not. :0)
Report abuse
Just Me – yes, I think it is “Just You” – of course the evenings are not just for thugs and it is up to you if you want to have a bit of a stroll through Town on a Friday/Saturday night at 11.30. Quite how you think this is beneficial to a child who should have been asleep hours before is beyond the wit of most of us mum’s who obviously have a bit more commonsense. Walk your child during the day, you may find that fresh air during the daylight hours, coupled with a warm bath later on and perhaps a story or two when you tuck them up (rather than stick them in front of a TV of course…)will work better. Sorry if I sound condescending, but really.
Report abuse
Rather depends on the age of the “child”, Sarnia? My 6 month old keeps eating the books when I read her a story.
Report abuse
G4d – its never too early to enjoy books, so well done! At least he/she will grow up with the idea that quality time spent with mum/dad is the key to success.
Report abuse
Before living in Town I used to live in Cobo. If my son could not sleep we used regularly walk him around the Rockmount Car Park, especially on a weekend night.
The sound of colourful language and the Rockie regulars wretching due to excessive consumption of alcohol used to send him off to sleep a treat!
Like Just Me says. Don’t be judgemental about other people’s lifestyles, especially if those ‘others’ are keeping you in employment in a nice cushy number.
Report abuse
Town Dweller – could you explain what you mean by “others” keeping me in employment in a nice cushy number, and what this has to do with pushing a child around at night?
Report abuse
There’s no bigger basher of mothers than other mothers. Just reading the mums at each others throats in this thread is so sad… but oh so typical *yawn*.
Hope the mum in question comes forward to put this case to rest.
Report abuse
Rachel,
I particularly like the way nobody has questioned the assumption that the buggy actually has a baby in it. Perhaps the mother (if she is a mother, or even a woman…) is just pushing a buggy!
Report abuse
Perhaps it was a stolen buggy .. there’s never a ‘Buzy’ around when you need one!
Report abuse
It is possible the lady pushing the buggy had visited a friend living in town, and was now returning home. Or perhaps the lady lives in town herself. Why all the assumptions and condescending views about what time is best for someone else’s child?
Stop & think that she may reading your out-dated views and now feel embarrassed to contact police, thus not helping to solve the alleged racist term used.
Honestly ..
Report abuse
Sarnia Expat – you do sound condescending. There may be very valid reasons as to why the lady in question is pushing her baby around at that time.
At times we visit friends or relatives, get toddler to sleep there at a reasonable hour. When we decide to go home (shock, horror, sometimes past midnight!), we gently place said toddler in buggy and walk home.
Someone, please call the Parent Police now!
Report abuse
Banana – quite valid reasons I am sure – and each to their own. Perhaps we could start a little Creche outside the various pubs so that the darlings who can’t get to sleep could be entertained whilst their mums go a’clubbing….
I already apologised for my condescending tone, although Beanjar was the one suggesting putting up a poster in the job centre……….!
Report abuse
Actually, I suggested the benefits office.
Report abuse
Beanjar is right, stick a poster up in the benefits office.
Sarnia expat, you have nothing to apologise for. Why shouldn’t you be able to say what you think?
This woman appears to have a toddler rather than a small baby in her buggy. If she kept active with her child during the day then they would both be too tired to be roaming the streets of Town at 11:28 on a Saturday night…..
Report abuse