A former Police and Crime Commissioner has spoken to GB News about the racial prejudice he encountered while ascending to one of the most senior positions in British policing.
Festus Akinbusoye, who served as Bedfordshire’s PCC, described facing racist abuse during his journey, and said that “it was a difficult process.”
Mr Akinbusoye explained to The People’s Channel: “It was a difficult process. I had, in fact, someone telling me to go back where I came from, and that no one would ever vote for someone like me in a very rural part of Bedfordshire.
“But I defied the odds and we won the highest share of votes ever in that area for Police and Crime Commissioner, the highest total number of votes.
A former Police and Crime Commissioner has spoken to GB News about the racial prejudice in the force
|
GB NEWS
“It just goes to show that if you’re good at what you do, if people are convinced by your message and you have something about you, then in Britain, for the most part, people really don’t care about the colour of your skin.
“Of course, there are some people who, shall I say, have ideas stuck in the dark ages but we have to live with them.
“For the most part, it was challenging, of course, but like many people who look like me, we overcome those challenges and we go on to thrive in Britain, as many of us do every day.”
GB News host Miriam Cates added: “But they do treat you differently if you’re a woman, or at least that’s what Serena Kennedy is claiming.
“She has laid out details of the horrendous abuse she received in the wake of the Southport attacks.
“Now, of course, it was a very controversial decision at the time not to release the name of the attacker, but she’s explained that actually, she would have done if it was up to her.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Merseyside’s outgoing chief constable Serena Kennedy recently detailed the “horrific” online harassment she endured following last summer’s Southport attacks.
Mrs Kennedy, the force’s first female chief, faced thousands of abusive messages questioning her competence and demanding her resignation.
She noted that whilst all senior officers encounter criticism during high-profile incidents, women face additional attacks targeting their appearance, sexuality and gender identity.
“That is something very different that our male colleagues don’t experience in the same way and with the same voracity and vileness,” Mrs Kennedy stated.
The chief constable also said that misogyny is getting worse | PAMrs Kennedy claimed she was proud of how the unrest last summer was dealt with by her officers, rejecting claims of two-tier policing.
Sergeant Gregory Gillespie, Constable Luke Holden and PCSO Timothy Parry from her force all went on to win the National Police Bravery Award for confronting Axel Rudakubana after his vile attack.
She added: “We are absolutely clear and robust around if people break the law, we will take positive action.”
