Apology after 30 officers swoop on indie group

Race claim: Brixton band The Thirst suspect they were treated more harshly because they are black
12 April 2012

A police force has apologised after sending 30 officers, dogs and a helicopter to falsely arrest a London rock band.

Staffordshire Police held four members of The Thirst at gunpoint, along with their manager and a friend.

The band from Brixton, who have been a support act to the Rolling Stones and the Sex Pistols, were swooped on after a CCTV operator accused them of having a handgun in their car.

All six were detained overnight, had their fingerprints and DNA taken, surrendered their clothes for scientific examination and had their hands swabbed for firearms residue.

The men also say the only white member of the party was treated differently from the black members by being given a meal during their 15 hours in detention, while the rest were offered only water.

After examining the CCTV footage, it emerged that the band were not holding a weapon, but were unloading their instruments and equipment and using jump leads to start a vehicle.

A senior officer has now apologised to the six men and is reviewing the episode.

In a letter to the men, Assistant Chief Constable Jane Sawyers wrote: "We clearly got this wrong and I totally accept the sighting of a handgun was a mistake."

The arrests were made on 21 November after the band played at the Oak pub in Burntwood. Bass player Kwame Cofi-Agyeman said: "It was like something out of a film.

"I had a gun pressed against my neck. You hear of innocent people being shot, like Menezes or the guy with the chair leg [Harry Stanley]. I didn't want to be another statistic, another police blunder."

The 24-year-old's brother Mensah was also arrested, along with Mark Lenihan and Marcus Harris.

Their manager Kingsley Slater and friend Jonny Morton-Clark were also held.

Mr Cofi-Agyeman said that while they were in the cells he was offered just a glass of water while the white member of the party, Mr Morton-Clark, was given a meal.

Mr Morton-Clark said: "I do think they treated me differently from the others. They put all the black guys in a van and they put me in a car."

Mr Cofi-Agyeman said: "I'm not playing the race card, but I couldn't help thinking race had something to do with it."

The band members said they may report the case the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

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