BTPHG comment on the news item shown below:
Our history is a proud one but, like all forces there are parts of our past we wish hadn’t happened. The impact of police corruption has a very long shadow. The activities of Ridgewell and his associates represent a low point in our history. The BTPHG has worked to uncover historical records that expose such crimes and will continue to do so. The efforts of BTP to confront the past and to deal with its legacy have the full support of the BTPHG.
News Report – shown as reported:
A bursary for black students studying law is being established by the British Transport Police (BTP) to make amends for the actions of a corrupt detective more than 50 years ago, The Telegraph reports.
The scheme, to be launched next year, follows an apology from the BTP to a group of men who were wrongfully convicted in 1972 of attempting to rob an officer – Det Sgt Derek Ridgewell, head of the force’s anti-mugging squad.
He had been linked to a number of miscarriages of justice against young black men and was later convicted of stealing mailbags.
In December 2019, four men, who were known as the Oval Four, had their convictions for stealing handbags on the London Underground quashed.
Another group of the corrupt detective’s victims, the Stockwell Six, had their convictions, from 1972, quashed on appeal.
The force has said it will now use the money from the Proceeds of Crime Act to fund a bursary to help a British African undertake a law degree.
Lucy D’Orsi, Chief Constable of BTP, said: “Last year we issued an apology for the trauma suffered by the British African community through the criminal actions of former police officer Derek Ridgewell, who worked at BTP in the 1960s and 1970s.
“His inexcusable actions led to the conviction of innocent people and do not define the BTP today. It is important to do more than simply apologise and commit to learning from our past.
“We want to bring about real and meaningful change – improving community trust and confidence, whilst investing in future talent. This bursary aims to ensure that British African communities are better represented within the UK judicial system, which will benefit us all.”
Source: Scottish Legal News
H/T to John Owen for spotting this item.