Report exposes ‘dehumanization’ of police in Europe
A “culture of extremism” within law enforcement ranks is deepening both in the UK and in continental Europe, a think tank claims.
Police forces in both Britain and continental Europe have developed a “culture of extremism” which is now deepening, the UK-based Institute of Race Relations (IRR) think tank has claimed in a new report. According to the study, “dehumanization” and a “sense of superiority” are factors further aggravating the situation. In research titled “Racism, Radicalisation and Europe’s ‘Thin Blue Line’,” which was published in the July issue of Race & Class journal, IRR head Liz Fekete argues that racism “has become entrenched in policing.”
💬 Officers’ “sense of impunity” combined with the assumed “special role and status in the society” leads, in some instances, to “collusion and collaboration with militarized far-right groups.” “Strikingly, in several countries, such as France, Belgium, Germany and Hungary, extreme-right mayoral and parliamentary candidates have been former high-ranking officers.”