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Police sorry after race-quiz outrage

5:05pm Monday 13th November 2006

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Police have apologised to a white dad who was quizzed by officers after taking his two mixed-race daughters out for a pizza.

Paul Wrightson was questioned by the officers because they thought a white man with two Asian girls was suspicious.

But it has sparked fury from the family and particularly Mr Wrightson who fears he will be under suspicion when out with daughters Sita, 18, Asha, 15, and Sonia, 13.

Mr Wrightson, 43, of Bingley, has been married to his Asian wife Sherlinda, for 19 years. He had taken his two younger daughters for a treat at Pizza Hut in Bingley on Monday while their mum was busy helping a friend when he was asked by two Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to accompany them outside.

"We had caught the train from Forster Square in Bradford at about 6.40pm on Monday and we got off in Bingley. I took the girls to Pizza Hut for a treat and I had just finished my pizza when I noticed the officers come in.

"I joked with the girls that they were probably coming in for their tea. The two officers came over and asked me to come outside.

"One officer stayed in the restaurant with the girls and the other explained that a member of the public had seen a white man with two Asian girls acting suspiciously," he said. The officer asked Paul if he could prove he was their father and he explained that he didn't have any sort of documentation because he had met his girls after work to get some dinner.

Paul said the PCSO told him it looked strange a white man being with two Asian girls. "I just gave him my name and my date of birth," he added.

In the meantime a female PCSO asked Asha and Sonia who Mr Wrightson was and they also explained that he was their dad.

Asha also told the officer that she was embarrassing them and that the whole restaurant was looking at them.

Paul was eventually able to go back to his daughters who were visibly upset by the questions that the officer had been asking. "Is it getting to the stage where I can't go out with my own daughters?" asked Paul, who works at Dudley Hill Carpets.

Sherlinda, 46, who is a catering assistant at St Luke's Hospital, told the Telegraph & Argus that her daughters and her husband were all very upset by the incident and in particular the way that the officers handled the situation.

"I was devastated when Paul told me what happened. I've never come across anything like it my life. I was beside myself and one of my daughters had trouble sleeping that night," she said.

Paul has received an apology from an Inspector and Sergeant at Bingley Police Station and he hopes that this does not happen to another family.

"I shouldn't have to explain to anyone who I am when I have done nothing wrong expect take my daughters out for a meal. This may have been the first time that this has happened but does that mean it is going to be the last?"

Sherlinda said that she hoped the police would be more sensitive and a bit more open-minded in the future.

"They should be more open- minded, I mean we are living in a multi-cultural society. When I married Paul it was in more difficult times. I expect people to more open-minded now."

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "We responded to a report made in good faith by a concerned member of the public. We apologise for any inconvenience or embarrassment that was caused."

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Your Say YourBradford Telegraph and Argus

im Khan, says...
6:27pm Mon 13 Nov 06

this is another act of racism it should be stop. It is upsetting that this kind of activities are happening especially with the police and the Community Support Officers who have no right in stopping mixed race people being with each other. i feel that here should be an official investigation on the this matter. This is what spreads acial hatered around the city.

Report this post »

im Khan, says...
6:27pm Mon 13 Nov 06

this is another act of racism it should be stop. It is upsetting that this kind of activities are happening especially with the police and the Community Support Officers who have no right in stopping mixed race people being with each other. i feel that here should be an official investigation on the this matter. This is what spreads acial hatered around the city.

Report this post »

im Khan, says...
6:27pm Mon 13 Nov 06

this is another act of racism it should be stop. It is upsetting that this kind of activities are happening especially with the police and the Community Support Officers who have no right in stopping mixed race people being with each other. i feel that here should be an official investigation on the this matter. This is what spreads acial hatered around the city.

Report this post »

im Khan, says...
6:27pm Mon 13 Nov 06

this is another act of racism it should be stop. It is upsetting that this kind of activities are happening especially with the police and the Community Support Officers who have no right in stopping mixed race people being with each other. i feel that here should be an official investigation on the this matter. This is what spreads acial hatered around the city.

Report this post »

Dave McCue, says...
7:47pm Mon 13 Nov 06

One wonders what the individual who made the accusation thought Mr Wrightson was guilty of. Mr Wrightson, his daughters and the Police have all been victims here. they have been manipulated by some narrow minded busybody who will no doubt remain annonymous.

One cannot imagine how embarrassed he and his daughters must have been. As a father my heart goes out to them.

Report this post »

Dave McCue, says...
7:47pm Mon 13 Nov 06

One wonders what the individual who made the accusation thought Mr Wrightson was guilty of. Mr Wrightson, his daughters and the Police have all been victims here. they have been manipulated by some narrow minded busybody who will no doubt remain annonymous.

One cannot imagine how embarrassed he and his daughters must have been. As a father my heart goes out to them.

Report this post »

Dave McCue, says...
7:47pm Mon 13 Nov 06

One wonders what the individual who made the accusation thought Mr Wrightson was guilty of. Mr Wrightson, his daughters and the Police have all been victims here. they have been manipulated by some narrow minded busybody who will no doubt remain annonymous.

One cannot imagine how embarrassed he and his daughters must have been. As a father my heart goes out to them.

Report this post »

Dave McCue, says...
7:47pm Mon 13 Nov 06

One wonders what the individual who made the accusation thought Mr Wrightson was guilty of. Mr Wrightson, his daughters and the Police have all been victims here. they have been manipulated by some narrow minded busybody who will no doubt remain annonymous.

One cannot imagine how embarrassed he and his daughters must have been. As a father my heart goes out to them.

Report this post »

Rick, says...
9:18pm Mon 13 Nov 06

I have to agree with Mr McCue. If the police are responding to a call made my a member of the public, they have to investigate. They really can't be held accountable, however I'm sure the officers in question might have shown a little more care, but then I did not witness the incident, and therefor cannot judge with impartiality.

Report this post »

Rick, says...
9:18pm Mon 13 Nov 06

I have to agree with Mr McCue. If the police are responding to a call made my a member of the public, they have to investigate. They really can't be held accountable, however I'm sure the officers in question might have shown a little more care, but then I did not witness the incident, and therefor cannot judge with impartiality.

Report this post »

Rick, says...
9:18pm Mon 13 Nov 06

I have to agree with Mr McCue. If the police are responding to a call made my a member of the public, they have to investigate. They really can't be held accountable, however I'm sure the officers in question might have shown a little more care, but then I did not witness the incident, and therefor cannot judge with impartiality.

Report this post »

Rick, says...
9:18pm Mon 13 Nov 06

I have to agree with Mr McCue. If the police are responding to a call made my a member of the public, they have to investigate. They really can't be held accountable, however I'm sure the officers in question might have shown a little more care, but then I did not witness the incident, and therefor cannot judge with impartiality.

Report this post »

Darren, says...
9:15am Tue 14 Nov 06

Sorry Mr Khan, but I think you didn't read the story correctly. The CSO's were responding to a call from a racist narrow minded member of the public, probably someone who's never been outside of the UK. Lets not immediatley judge the police in this who have to respond to calls from the public, maybe if more Asian's joined the CSO's and police force then it would help them be more sensitive. BTW If a Asian man was to walk into pizza hut with two white.mixed racce girls, and wonder what would happen then?

Report this post »

Darren, says...
9:15am Tue 14 Nov 06

Sorry Mr Khan, but I think you didn't read the story correctly. The CSO's were responding to a call from a racist narrow minded member of the public, probably someone who's never been outside of the UK. Lets not immediatley judge the police in this who have to respond to calls from the public, maybe if more Asian's joined the CSO's and police force then it would help them be more sensitive. BTW If a Asian man was to walk into pizza hut with two white.mixed racce girls, and wonder what would happen then?

Report this post »

Darren, says...
9:15am Tue 14 Nov 06

Sorry Mr Khan, but I think you didn't read the story correctly. The CSO's were responding to a call from a racist narrow minded member of the public, probably someone who's never been outside of the UK. Lets not immediatley judge the police in this who have to respond to calls from the public, maybe if more Asian's joined the CSO's and police force then it would help them be more sensitive. BTW If a Asian man was to walk into pizza hut with two white.mixed racce girls, and wonder what would happen then?

Report this post »

Darren, says...
9:15am Tue 14 Nov 06

Sorry Mr Khan, but I think you didn't read the story correctly. The CSO's were responding to a call from a racist narrow minded member of the public, probably someone who's never been outside of the UK. Lets not immediatley judge the police in this who have to respond to calls from the public, maybe if more Asian's joined the CSO's and police force then it would help them be more sensitive. BTW If a Asian man was to walk into pizza hut with two white.mixed racce girls, and wonder what would happen then?

Report this post »

Faisal, says...
1:55pm Tue 14 Nov 06

Darren - in reply to your last statement, It would all depend on if this 'busybody' who has nothing better to do than stick their nose in and create drama for themselves was watching.

Im sure the CSO's could have handled things much better. I wasnt there but obviously the girls felt distressed at the situation and they could have easily taken them out of the resturant away from the gazing eys of the public.

Report this post »

Faisal, says...
1:55pm Tue 14 Nov 06

Darren - in reply to your last statement, It would all depend on if this 'busybody' who has nothing better to do than stick their nose in and create drama for themselves was watching.

Im sure the CSO's could have handled things much better. I wasnt there but obviously the girls felt distressed at the situation and they could have easily taken them out of the resturant away from the gazing eys of the public.

Report this post »

Faisal, says...
1:55pm Tue 14 Nov 06

Darren - in reply to your last statement, It would all depend on if this 'busybody' who has nothing better to do than stick their nose in and create drama for themselves was watching.

Im sure the CSO's could have handled things much better. I wasnt there but obviously the girls felt distressed at the situation and they could have easily taken them out of the resturant away from the gazing eys of the public.

Report this post »

Faisal, says...
1:55pm Tue 14 Nov 06

Darren - in reply to your last statement, It would all depend on if this 'busybody' who has nothing better to do than stick their nose in and create drama for themselves was watching.

Im sure the CSO's could have handled things much better. I wasnt there but obviously the girls felt distressed at the situation and they could have easily taken them out of the resturant away from the gazing eys of the public.

Report this post »

en, says...
2:02pm Tue 14 Nov 06

what would happen then mr darren.

i wanted to be a policeman when i was young, i too was falsly arrested for attempted murder by the police, with my 4 cousins, that was a mind chaning move, falsly imprisoned for 17 hours of my life having my human rights taken away, all because i was asian, consider if i was that pcso do u think there would be this much publicity?

Report this post »

en, says...
2:02pm Tue 14 Nov 06

what would happen then mr darren.

i wanted to be a policeman when i was young, i too was falsly arrested for attempted murder by the police, with my 4 cousins, that was a mind chaning move, falsly imprisoned for 17 hours of my life having my human rights taken away, all because i was asian, consider if i was that pcso do u think there would be this much publicity?

Report this post »

en, says...
2:02pm Tue 14 Nov 06

what would happen then mr darren.

i wanted to be a policeman when i was young, i too was falsly arrested for attempted murder by the police, with my 4 cousins, that was a mind chaning move, falsly imprisoned for 17 hours of my life having my human rights taken away, all because i was asian, consider if i was that pcso do u think there would be this much publicity?

Report this post »

en, says...
2:02pm Tue 14 Nov 06

what would happen then mr darren.

i wanted to be a policeman when i was young, i too was falsly arrested for attempted murder by the police, with my 4 cousins, that was a mind chaning move, falsly imprisoned for 17 hours of my life having my human rights taken away, all because i was asian, consider if i was that pcso do u think there would be this much publicity?

Report this post »

David Harper, says...
2:43pm Tue 14 Nov 06

I hope that the person making the complaint was not allowed to remain anonymous to the police and that s/he remains on record to track whether s/he makes a habit of accusing people. This would help the police assess whether further action needs to be taken

Report this post »

David Harper, says...
2:43pm Tue 14 Nov 06

I hope that the person making the complaint was not allowed to remain anonymous to the police and that s/he remains on record to track whether s/he makes a habit of accusing people. This would help the police assess whether further action needs to be taken

Report this post »

David Harper, says...
2:43pm Tue 14 Nov 06

I hope that the person making the complaint was not allowed to remain anonymous to the police and that s/he remains on record to track whether s/he makes a habit of accusing people. This would help the police assess whether further action needs to be taken

Report this post »

David Harper, says...
2:43pm Tue 14 Nov 06

I hope that the person making the complaint was not allowed to remain anonymous to the police and that s/he remains on record to track whether s/he makes a habit of accusing people. This would help the police assess whether further action needs to be taken

Report this post »

steve, says...
7:20am Wed 15 Nov 06

It seems they were acting after being called by a member of public, it isnt their fault as they have to respond to all calls impartially, and will inevtiably **** people off.
I've done it, others will do it, and it happens in all jobs.

Report this post »

steve, says...
7:20am Wed 15 Nov 06

It seems they were acting after being called by a member of public, it isnt their fault as they have to respond to all calls impartially, and will inevtiably **** people off.
I've done it, others will do it, and it happens in all jobs.

Report this post »

steve, says...
7:20am Wed 15 Nov 06

It seems they were acting after being called by a member of public, it isnt their fault as they have to respond to all calls impartially, and will inevtiably **** people off.
I've done it, others will do it, and it happens in all jobs.

Report this post »

steve, says...
7:20am Wed 15 Nov 06

It seems they were acting after being called by a member of public, it isnt their fault as they have to respond to all calls impartially, and will inevtiably **** people off.
I've done it, others will do it, and it happens in all jobs.

Report this post »

Comments are closed on this article.

Paul Wrightson and his two daughters outside the Pizza Hut restaurant in Bingley

Paul Wrightson and his two daughters outside the Pizza Hut restaurant in Bingley



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