TWO policemen who abused an Asian man were ''extremely fortunate''
only to be fined a day's pay, Sir Peter Imbert said yesterday.
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner went on: ''I make no bones about
it. I think a harsher punishment could well have been appropriate.''
Malkanjit Natt, an Indian-born factory worker, secretly tape-recorded
remarks made by the two officers after his arrest in Newham, east
London.
The officers are heard swearing at him and telling him to ''go home .
. . to India or Pakistan or wherever you come from''.
In another exchange when Mr Natt asked ''Why beat me?'' one of the
officers replied: ''Why? Because I like it.''
After the incident an internal disciplinary board ordered the officers
each to forfeit one day's pay.
At a news conference called to launch his annual report, Sir Peter
said that such actions would not be tolerated ''whatever the
provocation, whatever the circumstances''.
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