‘We Are Not the Same’: London Police Publish George Floyd Statement Criticizing US Cops as Policing ‘By Force’

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London’s Metropolitan Police published a lengthy Twitter thread on Wednesday explaining how to “honor” George Floyd’s memory.

The thread, from senior police officer Neil Basu, said that taking a knee is a “powerful symbol of challenge and hope,” but that now was the time to “stand up” and take action. He also sought to differentiate police in the United States and United Kingdom, claiming, “unlike America we overwhelmingly police by consent, and not by force.”

“The death of George Floyd horrified us all, and rightly so. All the good cops I know – regardless of heritage – were also horrified, but for many of my BAME colleagues I suspect this has been a particularly shattering week. At least, that’s how I feel,” wrote Basu. “The way George died represented the worst of policing and will forever be a totemic image of racial injustice in America. His last words… “I can’t breathe…” have become an anthem, and I hope this is their moment for change, as Stephen [Lawrence]’s murder & inquiry was for UK policing.”

The death of George Floyd horrified us all, and rightly so. All the good cops I know – regardless of heritage – were also horrified, but for many of my BAME colleagues I suspect this has been a particularly shattering week. At least, that’s how I feel.

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 10, 2020

The way George died represented the worst of policing and will forever be a totemic image of racial injustice in America. His last words… “I can’t breathe…” have become an anthem, and I hope this is their moment for change, as Stephen’s murder & inquiry was for UK policing.

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 10, 2020

“It is not my place to criticise our colleagues in the US, still less to characterise the many with the actions of the few, or ascribe collective guilt. It is important, however, to highlight the differences between the UK and US,” he continued, noting, “We are not the same, because unlike America we overwhelmingly police by consent, and not by force.”

It is not my place to criticise our colleagues in the US, still less to characterise the many with the actions of the few, or ascribe collective guilt.

It is important, however, to highlight the differences between the UK and US

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 10, 2020

Differences of structure, law, government and most importantly, culture. We are not the same, because unlike America we overwhelmingly police by consent, and not by force.

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 10, 2020

Basu went on to claim that what “we are seeing in America & in UK, too, is anger directed not just at police brutality but the racial bias built into the very fabric of our institutions and society,” before adding, “So let us view the legitimate anger, manifesting itself now in different ways, with nuance and care.”

What we are seeing in America & in UK, too, is anger directed not just at police brutality but the racial bias built into the very fabric of our institutions and society – perhaps best illustrated in the UK by the huge disparity in young black men in the criminal justice system.

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 10, 2020

This disparity is seen in education, in health, in the workplace – it’s everywhere – and it’s a daily lived experience for many. So let us view the legitimate anger, manifesting itself now in different ways, with nuance and care.

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 10, 2020

On the decision of protesters and politicians to take a knee in solidarity, Basu said, “Taking a knee was and is a powerful symbol of challenge and hope, and I was moved to see some of our officers do so. But personally I see this as a time to stand up – stand up to racists, to inequality and injustice.”

If we want to honour George’s memory and leave policing in a better state than we found it, let’s hold our values close to our hearts, act them out, and be a force for true change.

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 10, 2020

Taking a knee was and is a powerful symbol of challenge and hope, and I was moved to see some of our officers do so. But personally I see this as a time to stand up – stand up to racists, to inequality and injustice.

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 10, 2020

Taking a knee was and is a powerful symbol of challenge and hope, and I was moved to see some of our officers do so. But personally I see this as a time to stand up – stand up to racists, to inequality and injustice.

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 10, 2020

“We can be better than this, and we must be better than this. There can be no better sight than watching people of many different faiths, nationalities and colour, standing together in peace against injustice,” he concluded. “At the height of probably the greatest fear some of our communities have ever known, this is a time to stand together.”

We can be better than this, and we must be better than this. There can be no better sight than watching people of many different faiths, nationalities and colour, standing together in peace against injustice.

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 10, 2020

At the height of probably the greatest fear some of our communities have ever known, this is a time to stand together.

Take care of yourselves, and one another.

Neil

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 10, 2020

Like the United States, the United Kingdom has experienced mass protests over the death of Floyd in police custody. Floyd was killed after a police officer kneeled on his neck for an extended period of time, despite protests from Floyd that he could not breathe.

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