Met Police: Harassment & Removal of Kirpan from Sikh Woman (57yrs old) – Update

This will be the last update for a while:

The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards has taken a detailed interview and statement of Amarjit Kaur and is pursuing a full investigation into the conduct of the officers and will also consider what lessons can be learned with regards to training etc.

The Met has attempted to dissuade Amarjit Kaur from continuing with the investigation and instead opt for quicker local resolution with the local police and the two officers involved.

Amarjit Kaur, has refused this, as only a full investigation will provide the opportunity to make sure lessons are learned by the Met for the future.

Because of the numerous steps involved in the investigation, it is estimated that it will be late September at the earliest before the results of the investigation will be provided. If a satisfactory outcome is not achieved at that point, we will then decide what further steps should taken.

Gurjit Singh
Gurjit.Gill@gs.com

London Met Police: Harassment & Removal of Kirpan from Sikh Woman (57yrs old)

Latest : The programme will be broadcast today (Monday) at 6pm on Sikh Channel.

Sunday 15 July : A discussion show was filmed this evening: it included a narration of the incident by Amarjit Kaur followed by a discussion which included Mejindarpal Kaur of UNITED SIKHS. Sikh Channel have not yet confirmed when it will be aired. Unfortunately, they were not able to play it live today.

Earlier today a Greenwich police inspector addressed the sangat at Gurdwara Sahib Woolwich to convey an apology on behalf of the police. The inspector assured the sangat that the officers involved in the incident are being fully investigated and that the results of the investigation will be shared in due course. The family continue to push for a speedy response.

For further information please contact:

gurjit.gill@gs.com
07824 487 366

London Metropolitan Police: Harassment & Removal of Kirpan from Sikh Women (57yrs old) – 2 Updates

13 July 2nd Update

A meeting took place at Plumstead police station on the evening of 12th July with the Greenwich Borough Commander, Deputy Commander and a representative from the complaints department (or similar).

The community was represented by Atma Singh (Gurdwara Sahib Woolwich General Secretary), Nirmal Singh (Gurdwara Sahib Woolwich President) and Jagir Kaur Sekhon (Councillor – Greenwich Council). The seriousness of the case was impressed upon the police. We await their response to the complaint.

Sikh Channel have confirmed that they will hold a live show on Sunday 7pm at their Southall studio. Amarjit Kaur will be given an opportunity to describe what happened. Sikh Channel have requested a written statement/response from the police and have also invited the police to send a representative to the show. As yet the police have not confirmed their intentions. Mejindarpal Kaur, UNITED SIKHS chair, will attend the show also.

Gill, Gurjit

Gurjit.Gill@gs.com

13 July 1st Update

The kirpan has been returned to the home of Amarjit Kaur today by Chris Hafford (Superintendent and Deputy Borough Commander for Greenwich).

He was very apologetic, however, Amarjit Kaur made it very clear that we are pursuing the complaint further. Amarjit Kaur gave a detailed account of the incident, following which the Superintendent agreed that the behaviour was unacceptable and that the compliant should be continued.

Sikh Channel are arranging a show on the incident, likely this weekend.

For further information please contact:

gurjit.gill@gs.com
07824 487 366

London Metropolitan Police: Harassment & Removal of Kirpan from Sikh Women (57yrs old)

Request to sangat to support the family by putting pressure on the Metropolitan Police to take action against the officers involved.

Summary :

Amarjit Kaur (57 yrs) and her mother (80 yrs) were stopped in their car by traffic police in Woolwich, South East London. No offence was committed nor any driving regulation breached by Amarjit Kaur, it was a routine check. Amarjit Kaur has never committed any offence, traffic or otherwise, in the 38 years she has been a British citizen/resident.

Both officers acted very aggressively towards Amarjit Kaur throughout the 35 minute kerbside ordeal.

One officer forcibly removed Amarjit Kaur’s Kirpan without warning or reason.

Officers refused to return the Kirpan, claiming it was unlawful for Amarjit Kaur to carry it on her person. They later stated that only Sikh males are permitted to carry the Kirpan, and also attempted to force Amarjit Kaur to keep the Kirpan in her car boot.

No notice or written/verbal information was given to Amarjit Kaur by the officers, instead as they departed they waived the Kirpan in the air at Amarjit Kaur and said ‘we are keeping this’.

The actions and very aggressive tone of the officers made Amarjit Kaur feel very threatened, shaken and extremely upset.

Despite visits to Plumstead Police station (South East London) by  the family and many phone calls, the whereabouts of the Kirpan is not known and has not yet been returned.

A formal complaint has been filed at Plumstead Police station with reference CAD3332/7/ 7 .

For further information please contact:

gurjit.gill@gs.com
07824 487 366

377.The Man in Blue – The Arsonist GOI Agent

During the weekend of 13 and 14 June the jathedar Akal Takhat visited Southall. Apart from an appearance in the Singh Sabha Gurdwara he also visited a private house in the area.

During that visit somebody from the Woolwich Ramgarhia Gurdwara told the jathedar about a person who calls himself ‘the Man in Blue’, who is involved in the arson attack on the Bow Sikh Sangat Gurdwara and who is an agent of the Government of India.

Those that read my blog know that I did visit Woolwich and was ‘apprehended’ by the Prabandhaks while committing the horrible crime of taking pictures of the Gurdwara, was accused of being involved in the fire at the Sikh Sangat Gurdwara and was also told that I was not a Sikh but only dressed up as a one. When I tried to leave my exit was blocked.

The Prabandhaks phoned the police. When the police arrived I was very happy that I could leave the company of the committee members, but I was then searched under article 44 of the prevention of terrorism act.

Of course nothing was found that was even the least bit incriminating, but I think it is ridiculous that if you take pictures of a Gurdwara without the consent of the committee, the police think that this gives them the right to search you under the prevention of terrorism act.

I feel that I have an unresolved issue with the police, but have no wish to have an ongoing row with the Woolwich Gurdwara committee. They had me badly wrong, they made a mistake and they were told by Sikhs from East London that I was not a bogus Sikh and that everything I told them was true.

I have no appetite for a dialogue of the deaf like : You are an arsonist – No I am not; You are an agent of the GOI – No I am not. I am far too busy doing positive things, which I hope contribute to the ‘Welfare for All’, and which will give a positive image of Sikhí.

A friend gave me the contact details of somebody on the Ramgarhia Board, a number of people have offered to support me, but at the end of the day if the Woolwich Ramgarhia Committee keeps slandering me I suppose I will take legal advice about suing them.

I would certainly win, as the committee’s accusations are a completely nonsense. The only grounds for their suspicion are that I took pictures of the Gurdwara and that I did not like being accused of being involved in arson and being called a fake Sikh. In my thirteen years as an Amritdhari Sikh I have had some adventures with Prabandhaks, but never have I been treated with such malevolence.