Father makes complaint to police after black teenager is searched three times at Grantham railway station

The father of a black teenager has made a complaint to police after his son was searched three times within 90 minutes at Grantham railway station.

Adrian Roberts says his 19-year-old son, Tristan, was “humiliated” when he was searched by British Transport Police officers a second time in the gents’ toilets, where he was asked to remove his trousers for a search.

It comes as racial profiling and unfair treatment of people of colour is in the spotlight following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in America.

Tristan had travelled from home in Wolverhampton to visit a friend in Grantham last Wednesday. After getting off the train with other passengers, police officers asked him to step aside and he was searched on the bridge.

Mr Roberts believes his son was picked out of the crowd because of his colour. He says the officers took out handcuffs and told him to put his hands behind his back. He said about eight officers came from either end of the bridge and “rammed him up against the wall” and had hold of his arms and legs.

Mr Roberts says Tristan was told he would be pepper sprayed if he did not stay still. He was frisked and after they found nothing he was taken down to the platform in the lift and then escorted by four officers to the toilets.

Mr Roberts said: “They removed his shoes, socks, trousers and underpants. He was barefoot in an unsanitary toilet and he had an open wound on his heel after stepping on a nail. He had a dressing on it and they took that off as well. He was made to bend over naked from the waist down.”

Outside the toilet, Tristan faced a third search by officers with a dog.

Mr Roberts said: “I am absolutely outraged by the situation. I think it’s disproprotionate and it was unnecessary.”

Mr Roberts criticised the actions of officers and the impact the stress could have had on his son, who “has very serious epilepsy”.

“My wife is beside herself, but we are so relieved that he held it together,” he added.

Tristan, who works as a chef, told the Journal he was “shocked, embarrassed and humiliated” by the way he was treated.

He added: “I was annoyed at the same time because they stopped me for a ticket check but it somehow turned into a drugs and weapons search.

“They had already told me I was clear after the bridge so I do not understand why they had to do the other searches.”

Tristan says his train arrived in Grantham at 1.30pm and he did not leave the station until 3pm.

He said: “My friend had left the station because the police would not let her in and they stopped me from calling her.”

A spokesperson for British Transport Police told the Journal: “British Transport Police were conducting a routine operation at Grantham station targeting County Lines activity. The purpose of the operation is to tackle gangs using the railway to transport drugs, and identify and safeguard the young and vulnerable people they often exploit or intimidate into being couriers.

“Officers are trained to identify individuals potentially involved in this activity, be professionally curious and ask questions and, if necessary, establish whether there are grounds to conduct a search.

“During the operation, a 19-year-old man was stopped and searched.

“A public complaint was subsequently received regarding that specific matter. This will now be assessed by the force’s Professional Standards Department to ascertain whether any potential misconduct has taken place.”