A Metropolitan Police officer is under investigation following the resurfacing of a video where he advised Nigerian women not to involve the police in matters involving their husbands. The video, originally filmed at Divine Restoration International Church in Camberwell back in 2018, has triggered outrage after it went viral on social media.
In the footage, the officer is seen addressing a mostly female congregation in a blend of English and Yoruba, a Nigerian language, while standing at the church pulpit with three other officers. He touched on topics like knife crime and family issues, suggesting at one point that sons may not always listen to their mothers but might heed their fathers.
The part of the speech causing the most controversy, however, is when the officer appeared to advise women to “manage” domestic problems with their husbands instead of calling the police. This comment has been widely condemned by domestic abuse charities, who stress the importance of reporting abusive behavior.
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that the matter is under investigation, with a spokesperson saying: “We take allegations of this nature extremely seriously, and they are currently being reviewed.”
The resurfaced video comes amid broader concerns about the representation of Black officers in the UK police force. Recent reports reveal that two UK police forces have no Black officers, raising further discussions about diversity and cultural awareness within law enforcement.
The officer allegedly suggested that Nigerian women, once they arrive in the UK, often become “rude” towards their husbands, urging them not to involve the police but to handle issues privately. This footage was reported to the Metropolitan Police’s standards unit for review.
Afruca, an African children’s safeguarding group, expressed their outrage in a formal complaint to the police. Debbie Ariyo, Afruca’s Chief Executive, voiced her frustration, saying the officer’s remarks seemed to encourage women to remain in abusive relationships instead of seeking help. According to Ariyo, the officer was quoted as saying, “Do not call the police on your husband, but manage it.”
She also questioned why other police officers in attendance did not intervene while these comments were being made. Ariyo criticized the officer’s use of the phrase “manage it,” emphasizing that domestic violence isn’t limited to physical abuse but includes emotional and sexual abuse, often exacerbated by harmful cultural norms. She added that discouraging women from reporting abuse dismisses the serious nature of domestic violence, especially when children are also victims in such households.
Ariyo expressed further concern about the lack of focus on violence against Black women, pointing to figures showing that in 2022, nine out of the 21 women murdered in domestic violence incidents were Black, which represents 43% of femicide victims—a disproportionately high figure.
“We talk about violence against women, but often fail to focus on the violence Black women face, particularly in African and Caribbean communities,” Ariyo stated. “Hearing a police officer, who should be familiar with the UK’s Domestic Violence Act of 2021, tell women not to report abuse feels like an attack on Nigerian women.” She also called the officer’s remarks troubling given the number of police officers recently convicted of harming women.
Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh confirmed that the video had been forwarded to the professional standards team for investigation. He explained that the incident occurred during an informal talk by a police staff member at a church in Camberwell in 2018. He emphasized that the officer’s comments do not align with the Metropolitan Police’s stance on domestic abuse and that victims should always feel empowered to report such crimes to the police.
Adjei-Addoh also highlighted the work of dedicated police teams in Lambeth and Southwark, who collaborate with local authorities and charities to support victims of domestic abuse and encourage more individuals to come forward.
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