Despite the undoubted progress in attitudes and treatment of women officers and people from BME communities made by the Metropolitan Police Service over recent years, there are elements within the Met that act out dinosaur attitudes still thriving (Traditional?) in parts of British society.

A policeman has been suspended after allegedly calling a man a 'n*****' during the London riots.

The officer, who sources named as PC Alex MacFarlane of the Metropolitan Police, was apparently recorded by the suspect on a mobile phone as he took him into custody.
The officer is understood to have told the 21-year-old black man: 'The problem with you is you will always be a n*****, yeah? That’s your problem, yeah.'

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We can confirm that the Metropolitan Police Service received a complaint alleging a man arrested on August 11 2011 was subjected to discriminatory behaviour (racial remarks); assault and oppressive conduct/or harassment. These are serious allegations; any use of racist language or excessive use of force is not acceptable. The MPS's Directorate of Professional Standards referred this case to the IPCC who are independently investigating.

"Following the alleged incident, three officers were the subject of a misconduct investigation. One of the officers has been suspended in relation to this matter pending the result of the IPCC investigation. One of the officers has been placed on restricted duties on an unrelated matter and another remains on full duties."
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So what's the beef if the investigation is underway? The problem is that at first the Prosecution Service decided not to charge the officers involved despite evidence handed to it by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. It's only pressure from outside that's opened up the case.

As the chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Committee Keith Vaz said "...what I have heard suggests that lessons of the past have not been learned."