NUS president attacks police service
The newly elected president of the National Union of Students (NUS) has described the police as a racist and inhumane organisation staffed by thugs out in the street.
The newly elected president of the National Union of Students (NUS) has described the police as a racist and inhumane organisation staffed by thugs out in the street.
Malia Bouattia, 28, was elected at the organisations national conference last week, beating her nearest challenger and current leader Megan Dunn by 372 to 328 votes.
Ms Bouattia, who has previously blocked a NUS motion to condemn Islamic State, has also faced allegations of anti-semitism, which she denies.
Her election has caused a potential split in the union with several universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester, Birmingham and York now campaigning to break away.
Her anti-police views have sparked significant criticism.
Speaking in an online debate prior to her election, she said the polices role was not to serve the public, but to control them for the benefits of a capitalist system and to supress the poor.
Ms Bouattia, the first black woman and the first Muslim to hold the role, said: I think its very dangerous to just see some of the good actions that the police take as reason enough to support their existence when the foundations, why they exist, are essentially corrupt they are inhumane.
She suggested that the police should be abolished and replaced by community led organisations.
Specific services like dealing with domestic violence, sexual harassment, assault or finding your kid when theyre lost… whats to say there arent other services that could be better supported within communities to facilitate that? she added.
Responding to the comments, Steve White, Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: Malia Bouattia is entitled to her opinions, of course, and we would be happy to sit down with her and discuss any issues she has with the police service.
The vast majority of the British public do not share her views, but if Ms Bouattia wants to take anything up with us, we will listen to what she has to say.
The NUS has not responded to a request from Police Professional to question Ms Bouattia about her views.
The NUS Presidency is seen as a launch pad for those wishing to enter national politics, with former Home Secretaries Jack Straw and Charles Clarke, former Conservative MP John Randall, Labour MP Stephen Twigg and former Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy all having taken on the role.