Advertisement

Met Police invite Bianca Williams and her partner Ricardo dos Santos to view video in 'racial profiling' row

Detained: Bianca Williams and Ricardo dos Santos criticised police: Bianca Williams
Detained: Bianca Williams and Ricardo dos Santos criticised police: Bianca Williams

A Team GB sprinter dragged from her car and handcuffed along with her partner has been invited to view police bodycam footage of the incident at a private meeting with police.

Intelligence that led to Commonwealth Games gold medallist Bianca Williams, 26, and Ricardo dos Santos, 25, also an international sprinter, being stopped and searched could also be shared by Scotland Yard.

Ms Williams has accused officers of racial profiling, pulling them over for a weapons search because they were black and driving a Mercedes.

The stop happened in Maida Vale as they returned from training, with three-month-old baby son Zuri-Li in the car, at 1.25pm on Saturday.

Chief Superintendent Helen Harper, the Met’s central west commander, offered to meet the couple “to discuss the concerns they have”.

The Met today said they would be keen to “hear their side while officers would explain the rationale” behind the stop.

Ms Williams and Mr Dos Santos, a Portuguese 400m record holder, are expected to be shown footage from a police bodycam that has been reviewed twice by the Met, which concluded there were no misconduct issues.

Scotland Yard said officers were on patrol in the area because of “an increase of youth violence involving weapons”. The Met said the Mercedes was being driven on the wrong side of the road and sped off when officers signalled for it to stop — claims the couple reject. Nothing was found in the car and they were detained for around 45 minutes before being released.

Footage of the incident was posted online by former Olympic champion Linford Christie.

Read more

Bianca Williams ‘vows to sue’ police over alleged racial profiling

GB sprinter accuses Met of racism after being hauled from car

San Francisco police end mugshot release to help prevent racial bias