A senior police officer has apologised to a Sikh man following an incident in which his religious head covering was removed during an arrest at Perry Barr police station in Birmingham. The force stated that the head covering, known as a patka, was taken off in a private room and fell to the floor, but was immediately retrieved.
Assistant Chief Constable Richard Baker met with the man to express regret for any distress caused. He acknowledged the deep religious significance of head coverings in the Sikh faith and said the force understood the anger and outrage the incident had provoked among the Sikh community and the wider public.
Mr Baker emphasised that the actions were not representative of West Midlands Police, adding: 'We are committed to treating everyone with dignity and respect and we continue to strive for better relationships with the communities we serve.' The matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is investigating the officers' interactions with the man on 27 October.
The IOPC previously clarified that a video circulating on social media, which alleged the man's turban had been stamped on in a custody suite, was false. The man was released on bail and is due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on 25 November, charged with obstructing a police officer and two driving offences related to a vehicle registration non-compliance.
