‘No offence, but you’re a black man’: Police to examine video of white officer stopping black driver because there were ‘drug dealers’ in area

'How do you stop someone because they’re black then tell me they’re not racist?' asks driver

Footage of a white police officer questioning a black driver after pulling him over “for nothing other than the colour of his skin” is being examined by Cambridgeshire Police.

The video was taken five years ago, but the driver’s sister released it on social media as anti-racism protests took place all over the world in the wake of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis.

The police officer in the video, who is unidentified, can be heard telling the driver he was pulled over because “no offence to you, you’re a black male” and that there had been a “number of drug dealers” in the area.

The driver said he lived in the area, to which the officer replies: “You might know that but I don’t because I’ve never met you before.

“The reason I’ve stopped you is because I haven’t seen you before and I’ve been a local officer for a long, long time here… I’m not accusing you of being a drug dealer, I’m not accusing you of being a criminal, but if I don’t stop people how can I do my job.”

He then explains that there are a “number of people that come up to this area that are young black males”.

“If I was a white person and drove past you, you wouldn’t have turned around and come after me would you?” the driver asks.

“Maybe not today but I stop more white people than I ever stop black people,” replies the officer. He reiterates several times he was “not a racist” but was just doing his job.

The driver, who wants to remain anonymous, told ITV Anglia this week that he couldn’t believe what the officer had said.

“How do you stop someone because they’re black then tell me they’re not racist?” he said.

“With everything that’s going on now, I thought that now is definitely the time to put the video out there and let people know that it is actually happening here.”

He did not call for the officer in the footage to be fired or to resign, but said police forces needed training.

“In my eyes, I’d like officers to undergo proper training to do their job properly,” he said. “I wouldn’t like to see anybody lose their job, because I understand what it’s like to be jobless and not bring in money, so I’d like them to undergo proper training and deal with humans are they’re supposed to.”

Cambridgeshire Police chief Nick Dean said in a statement addressing the video: “We are aware of a video circulating on social media involving a Cambridgeshire police officer. I can understand why such a video clip would be concerning, especially with the current events surrounding the death of George Floyd.

“Here in Cambridgeshire we have been and are committed to strengthening our ties with every community. With regards to this particular incident, I want to be clear that it was filmed in Ely more than five years ago and we do not believe that any formal complaint was ever received in relation to the officer’s actions.

“The circumstances surrounding this incident at the time are being examined. I want to reassure you that I am committed to ensuring all officers and staff act with the utmost integrity and professionalism.”