UK police arrest Black woman in front of her child over bus ticket

UK police have brutally arrested a woman of African descent in front of her child, claiming she had not paid for a bus ticket. Metropolitan Police defended the police officer's actions despite establishing she had in fact paid.

British media reported on Sunday that passers-by on the street in Croydon, south London, had intervened in the incident with some asking the officers why the woman was being arrested.

Footage of the shocking incident shows the Black woman being manhandled by two White officers as her child son hysterically cried in desperation.

In the footage a female police officer can be seen holding the crying son, who had been separated from his mother.

Meanwhile, earlier investigations in the UK have confirmed that the country's police is institutionally racist and misogynist.

UK police institutionally racist, misogynist: report

A new official report into the UK

After the video of the arrest became viral, Metropolitan Police Service defended the officers' actions, stating that the woman was thought to have not paid her bus fare. This was later proved wrong and she was allowed to walk away. 

"We are aware of a video circulating showing a female being handcuffed by police," Metropolitan Police said in a statement, adding, "Officers from the Roads and Transport Policing Command were conducting a joint revenue protection operation with Transport for London inspectors in Whitehorse Road, Croydon, on Friday July 21.

"One woman left the bus after not complying with a revenue inspector's request to check that she has paid her fare. When asked to stop by police she attempted to walk off and became abusive. As a result she was arrested on suspicion of fare evasion and detained.

"When it was later established that the woman had paid she was de-arrested and allowed to go on her way.

"The woman was with her child and we appreciate that the video and circumstances look concerning. However, it is a snapshot of a wider incident. The video from this incident and the officers' body worn video, which was active for a longer period than the social media clip, had been reviewed.

"Our officers regularly liaise with local community groups and forums and we will be discussing the matter with them and listening to their views."

String of scandals forces UK to step up vetting standards for police

The British government has unveiled new vetting standards for police after a string of damaging scandals.

The recent incident involving a young black woman, who was riding a city bus with her son, resounds to earlier scandals that have damaged the image of British police.

Just last week, the British Home Office said that police chiefs were being given additional tools to "root out officers unfit to serve the public", as it released an update to the College of Policing's Vetting Code of Practice.

The need to update the police screening system came after a number of highly-damaging scandals rocked British forces, particularly London's Metropolitan Police Service, which is the UK's biggest.

London police riven with institutional 'racism, misogyny'

A report finds that London

UK government official Louise Casey, in her 363-page report in March, described the country's law enforcement agency as an institutionally homophobic, misogynistic, racist, and sexist force in charge of policing the nation.

The report revealed that the organization hasn't treated violence against women and girls as seriously as other forms of violence.

"The de-prioritization and de-specialization of public protection has put women and children at greater risk than necessary," the review said. "Despite some outstanding experienced senior officers, an overworked inexperienced workforce polices child protection, rape and serious sexual offenses."

The report also cited widespread bullying and discrimination in the department. It also highlighted the fact that the department is still disproportionately White. The report was commissioned after a serving officer raped and killed Sarah Everard, a young marketing executive in March 2021, sparking national outcry. The case was one of a series of scandals tarnishing UK police's image.

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