Police officer accused of “forcibly removing a man’s turban and stamping on it’ in Perry Barr

Fury erupts within Birmingham’s Sikh community after a police officer allegedly tore off a man’s turban at Perry Barr Custody Suite on Monday.

Police have issued a statement to calm the rising tension in the local Sikh community following the appalling incident which took place on Monday 25th October.

The alleged incident, which is being described as “a racist hate crime” by angry social media comments from the Sikh community, took place at Perry Bar Custody Suite, in Holford Drive, where a police officer reportedly tore off the turban of an individual from the Sikh community who had been arrested for a minor traffic offence.

The young Sikh man was taken to Perry Barr Custody Suite on Monday and was in the process of providing information when the officer in charge of booking offenders asked the Sikh man to remove his turban to ensure there were no weapons concealed inside it.

When the man failed to comply with the request the police officer allegedly reached across the reception desk and ripped off the turban, and then “stamped on it”.

The Sikh man was charged with obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty and two counts of driving a vehicle when the VRM fails to conform with regulations. He was released on bail to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court on 25th November.

The shocking incident led to hundreds of people from the Sikh community gathering outside Perry Barr Custody Suite to stage a protest on Wednesday (27th October) to raise concerns about racism and religious intolerance within the police force.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: “We are aware of social media posts accusing one of our custody officers of forcibly removing the turban from a man and stamping on it on the floor.

“The safety of people in custody and our officers is our primary concern, therefore it is sometimes necessary to search anyone who is uncooperative for weapons or anything which could cause harm, while also respecting privacy and religious practices.”

The police Professional Standards Department is currently investigating this serious and deeply troubling incident. The National Sikh Police Association UK is also liaising and looking into this case.