'Racist' claim as turban is forced off

A Brierfield Sikh has made an official complaint to the police after he says he was forced to publicly take off his turban and let down his hair after being arrested.

Newsagent Arpan Singh (21), who was accused of having stolen goods at his shop on Colne Road, claims the custody officer's orders were racist.

As a central part of their religion and as a symbol of spirituality, Sikhs do not cut their hair and wear it on top of their head in a bun covered by a turban. It is mandatory for all adult males. The turban is the outward manifestation of a man's religion and makes the Sikh instantly recognisable.

But on this occasion Mr Singh says he was not wearing the full turban, which is like a long scarf wound around the head, but the "patka", a small covering 30cms square, over the hair and held in place by an elastic band.

The incident happened on Friday, January 19th, at teatime.

After being arrested at his shop, Mr Singh was taken to the custody suite at Burnley Police Station, where, when requested, he took off his shoes, some friendship bands, his necklace and the waist cord from his tracksuit trousers.

He said: "I tried to explain to the officer that it was part of my religion that I did not take off my turban, but he did not want to know and kept talking to other officers. He said that I had no choice but to take it off and feeling intimidated I did so in front of all the other people, who were laughing. He said I also had to take the elastic band out of my hair and let my hair down. I felt humiliated."

Mr Singh, known to everyone as "Johnny", said his 14-year-old brother, Arjun, was also arrested and taken to the same custody cells before him, but he was not made to take off his patka.

"That is why I say the officer dealing with me was racist. This was not a case of religious ignorance. He was also disrespectful and I found it very upsetting. Even Sikhs in police forces throughout the country are allowed to wear their turbans, which bear the badge," said Mr Singh.

He said he asked independent custody visitors at the police station to find out why he had to take his patka off when his brother did not.

He said: "They returned saying it was for health and safety reasons – my health and safety and that my brother also had to take his off."

British-born Mr Singh added: "I have had taunts of 'Sikh b......' hurled at me by other Asians in the town but I did not expect racism from our police."

Police removed cigarettes and SIM cards for mobile phones together with a bicycle he bought at a car boot sale at Colne Sports Centre in October. So far he has not been charged with any criminal offence, was granted police bail, and has to report back to the police later this month.

He said: "I am an honest person."

He added: "I was also arrested in June last year relating to another incident and I was later cleared. I wonder who is feeding the police this information."

He has made formal complaints to the Acting Chief Constable of Lancashire, Steve Finnigan, to Chief Superintendant Jerry Graham, head of the police in Pennine Division, and has written to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. A police spokesman confirmed that Mr Graham had received his letter and the matter was being investigated.

Pendle Today