| Hateland -
Articles |
04/07/00
- Community and cops worked together to catch Copeland
South London Press
CONVICTED killer David Copeland has begun six life sentences
for his evil nail-bomb attacks. The Old Bailey jury rejected
the 24-year-old's pleas of manslaughter, refusing to accept
he was insane when he committed the crimes. They found
him guilty of murdering three people, including a pregnant
woman, and injuring dozens during his campaign of terror
in Brixton, Brick Lane and Soho in April last year.
It was on April 17, 1999, that he began that hate campaign
in busy Brixton Market KELLIE REDMOND and FERGUS HEWISON
report on how the community coped with the aftermath of
the blast A UNIQUE partnership between cops and community
leaders developed in the hunt for the Brixton bomber.
It followed a less than harmonious relationship in the
past marked by the 80s and mid-90s riots, and suspicion
among the black community towards the police.
But in the wake of that unforgettable Saturday afternoon
in Electric Avenue, groups came together in a united show
of strength, driven by a common revulsion and determination
to catch the murderer. Speaking after the jury's decision
on Friday, Lambeth's top cop, Chief Supt Simon Foy paid
tribute to the community, saying: "I'm delighted
with the verdict. It's a testament to the co-operation
and openness of people who were willing to engage with
us and give us information."
Mr Foy expressed sorrow for the nail bomber's victims
but praised the excellent communication and co-operation
between the police and the local community in the aftermath
of the attack. Lay members of the Lambeth Community Police
Consultative Group (LCPCG) were invited by police to take
a lead role in witness appeals, reconstructions, media
publicity, and attended Scotland Yard briefings.
Mike Franklin, LCPCG chairman, said: "Sharing information
is important, as it helps engender trust. "There
is often the impression that this community, which has
a lot of serious crime, is complacent about what happens.
"But that couldn't be further from the truth - we
all have a duty to do something about it. "None of
us should ever sit silently and watch while innocent people
are being bombed by racist murderers.
There was outrage at the time in the Brixton community"
Mr Franklin said it was LCPCG members who urged police
to release the X-ray image of a baby with a nail embedded
in its skull to provoke a stronger public reaction to
the witness appeal. Lambeth Council also drew up the Declaration
Against Racism, a public statement of pride in the cultural
diversity of Lambeth and south London.
Launched within a week of the bombing, there were public
signings by the then council leader Jim Dickson and black
rights activist Lee Jasper. Mr Jasper, the new GLA's cabinet
advisor on race relations, praised the Met and Crown Prosecution
Service for swiftly bringing Copeland to justice.
He said: "This attempt at inciting a race war failed
miserably because of all of London's people black and
white, gay and straight united in condemnation of these
heinous crimes." Lambeth's newly elected leader Tom
Franklin said he was proud of the council's clean-up operation,
which allowed the market to re-open almost immediately.
He added: "It is also clear the council's decision
to install CCTV assisted in locating the terrorist, though
sadly not before two more bomb attacks had taken place."
Howeve, while bridges have been built between the police
and Brixton's black community, Mr Franklin said much work
remains to be done.
Nick Lowles, co-editor of anti-fascist magazine Searchlight,
said the case highlighted the danger of racist propaganda
and warned there were more people like Copeland in society.
And he added: "With his bombings he has raised the
stakes enormously, he has taken racist violence to a new
level. If we fail to learn the lessons, the repercussions
are likely to be deadly." |
| Contact : bernard.omahoney@bernardomahoney.com |
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