In a groundbreaking decision that exposes the dark underbelly of police misconduct, the appeal court has ruled that the City of London police used unlawful force when they Tasered a black youth worker who was merely standing with his arms folded during a routine traffic stop. The victim, 38-year-old Edwin Afriyie, has been fighting for justice for over six years, and his perseverance has finally paid off with a resounding victory that could have far-reaching implications for police accountability and racial justice.
A Night That Changed Everything
The incident that sparked this legal battle occurred on a fateful night in April 2018, when Afriyie was driving three friends home from a party in East London. As they entered the City, police pulled over Afriyie’s Mercedes coupe, allegedly for speeding, though he was never prosecuted for any traffic violation. What happened next would forever alter the course of Afriyie’s life and expose the deep-seated racial biases that plague law enforcement.
According to close sources, officers at the scene falsely claimed in their written statements that Afriyie had adopted a “fighting stance” before they deployed the Taser. However, the truth lay in the body-worn camera footage, which clearly showed Afriyie standing at a distance from the officers, his arms folded in a non-threatening manner. The discrepancy between the officers’ accounts and the video evidence would prove to be a crucial factor in the appeal court’s decision.
The Price of Standing Up for Justice
For Afriyie, the experience was nothing short of traumatic. After being struck by the Taser, he fell backward, hitting his head on a stone window ledge and suffering a minor traumatic brain injury. But the physical wounds paled in comparison to the emotional toll of fighting for justice in a system that seemed stacked against him.
I’m still in shock and I’m grateful to the judges and the courts for doing the right thing. But it is also bittersweet because I’m not happy with how hard we had to fight for it. The justice system has allowed me and my loved ones to go through this extended torture for more than six years.
Edwin Afriyie
Afriyie’s legal team argued that the level of force used by the police was neither lawful nor necessary, a sentiment echoed by Judge Sue Carr in the appeal court’s ruling:
Tasers are prohibited firearms. They are potentially lethal weapons … The use of a Taser on the appellant, who at the time of discharge was standing still in a non-aggressive stance with his arms folded and talking to his friend, was not objectively reasonable in the circumstances.
Judge Sue Carr
A Glimmer of Hope in the Fight Against Police Misconduct
The appeal court’s decision marks a significant victory not only for Afriyie but for countless others who have fallen victim to police misconduct and racial profiling. Kevin Donoghue, Afriyie’s lawyer, believes this judgment should serve as a wake-up call for law enforcement agencies across the country:
This judgment should reassure the public that victims of the unlawful use of force by the police will take aggressive action to hold them to account. They should be accepting responsibility and seeking to remedy the situation rather than dragging it out through the courts, causing six years of emotional toll for Ed.
Kevin Donoghue, Afriyie’s lawyer
While the City of London police have yet to comment on whether they will seek permission to appeal the decision further, the potential payout for Afriyie is estimated to be in the region of £30,000. However, the true cost of this case extends far beyond any monetary compensation. Both legal teams have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on the case, which required two high court trials after the initial judge fell ill.
The Long Road Ahead
As a youth and community worker, Afriyie had dedicated his life to improving trust between young black Londoners and the police. Ironically, it was this very trust that was shattered on that April night in 2018. While Afriyie’s legal claim did not directly address racial discrimination, he firmly believes that the incident would never have unfolded the way it did had he been a white man driving a Mercedes.
They treated me like a wild animal. This experience would never have happened to me if I was white.
Edwin Afriyie
The road to justice has been long and arduous for Edwin Afriyie, but his unwavering determination has finally been rewarded. His victory in the appeal court serves as a beacon of hope for those who have been marginalized, mistreated, and overlooked by a system that claims to serve and protect all citizens equally. As the nation grapples with the ongoing crisis of police misconduct and racial injustice, cases like Afriyie’s remind us that change is possible, but it requires the courage and tenacity to stand up for what is right, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
The repercussions of this landmark decision will likely extend far beyond the confines of this single case. It has the potential to set a precedent for future legal challenges against police misconduct and to catalyze much-needed reforms in law enforcement training, accountability, and racial sensitivity. As we move forward as a society, it is crucial that we learn from the experiences of individuals like Edwin Afriyie and work tirelessly to build a justice system that truly upholds the principles of fairness, equality, and the rule of law for all.
