( New book ) Ricky Reel: Silence Is Not An Option

[Premi5]

@Ranjeet01 @dallysingh101and anyone else who can remember this story.

was this on a level of police incompetence as the Stephen Lawrence enquiry?

Was it definitely whites or was it some other brown people that targeted Ricky and his friends ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ricky-Reel-Silence-Not-Option/dp/1914143574/ref=asc_df_1914143574/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=606746863805&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10571136343496038818&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9044970&hvtargid=pla-1729121938056&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

 

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On 14 October 1997 Ricky Reel went missing following a racist attack in Kingston upon Thames. Seven days later Ricky’s body was found at the bottom of the River Thames, just metres away from where the boys had been abused and attacked. He was only 20 at the time.

25 years later, no one has been charged with his death. The police investigation was found to have been seriously flawed. To make matters worse, during the time when the family were grieving they were being spied on by undercover police. In this new book Ricky’s mother Sukhdev Reel tells the powerful and moving story of Ricky’s life and her family’s struggle for justice

 

 

 

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newsbirmingham/ricky-reels-mum-to-speak-of-25-year-fight-for-justice-over-death-of-her-son/ar-AA12HWlH

Ricky Reel's mum to speak of 25-year fight for justice over death of her son

Amneet Kaur - Friday

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A mum is seeking answers to end the 25-year riddle of how her much-loved son was found dead in the River Thames. Heartbroken Sukhdev Kaur Reel said she and others needed to finally know what happened to 20-year-old Ricky.

He vanished in October 1997 after a night out with friends in what his mother believed was a racist attack in Kingston-upon-Thames in south-west London. His three friends were able to regroup but Ricky never did. His body was found in the water a week later.

Sukhdev has written a book, Silence is not an option, about her struggle for the truth and how she has coped with her son's unsolved death. She is touring the work and will speak at Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Smethwick, from 3pm to 5pm tomorrow, Saturday, October 8.

She claimed police did not support her and instead made stereotypical assumptions about him due to his race and skin colour. The Met confirmed the case remained open and has previously denied Ricky's race was a factor in its investigation.

In 2014, the then-chief constable of Derbyshire Constabulary, Mick Creedon, said in a report into Scotland Yard's now-disbanded undercover unit, the Special Demonstration Squad, that information on families campaigning for justice for loved ones was gathered by officers who infiltrated political groups.

He said the justice campaigns had not been the targets of police infiltration. The intelligence was "hoovered up" accidentally by officers ordered to infiltrate leftist groups, which police chiefs believed were capable of violence.

Sukhdev told BirminghamLive: "I wanted to have the book ready and published on Ricky’s 25th anniversary. It is his legacy and memories for his siblings and their children who unfortunately never met Ricky.

"People need to know what happened to Ricky and how we were treated by the institutions who are supposed to deliver justice. Instead we were mocked because of our colour and race. In the eyes of the police there is this perception that Asian families force their children into marriages. I wanted to show the world that is not the case. We are no different and we need justice.

"Justice is essential and not elective. The book details the truly shocking compound failure by the police to investigate the death, while displaying ineptitude, indifference, incompetence and downright hostility towards our family.

"Basic investigations into what happened including searches were carried out by the family. It later transpired that the family and its supporters were under police surveillance at a time when resources were deemed scarce and unavailable to be used for investigation into Ricky's disappearance. The police refused then, and to this day, to be open, transparent and accountable.

Asked if she believed racially-motivated crime rates had dropped 25 years on, Sukhdev said: "One only has to look at the history and our case to see institutional racism we as people of colour face in today’s society.

"Some may say this happened 25 years ago. But in light of the recent events and revelations particularly about the Met, I am saddened to say that it could have happened yesterday. In my opinion I see no changes to racism we faced 25 years ago, which I feel is very much alive today as well. "

A Met spokesperson said: "The investigation into the death of Ricky Reel remains open.

"The Met's inquiry has been extensive - since Ricky’s disappearance and the discovery of his body in the River Thames on October 21, 1997, there have been numerous investigations and reviews. Officers have taken hundreds of statements from witnesses and people with information.

"There have been many media appeals and local leaflet appeals as part of our extensive efforts to piece together the circumstances around Ricky’s death.

"The inquest in 1999 into Ricky’s death returned an open verdict. In 2012, new information was reported to police by a member of the public – which led to a man being interviewed by officers however he was subsequently eliminated from the inquiry.

"No arrests have been made, or charges brought in connection with Ricky’s death.

"Currently, there are no active lines of inquiry into the death of Ricky and the case remains open. We would urge anyone with information about Ricky’s death to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Any new information will be assessed and followed up as appropriate."

 

[dallysingh101]

On 10/12/2022 at 3:37 PM, Premi5 said:

@dallysingh101and anyone else who can remember this story.

I remember when this happened. Anyone who grew up when I did, in this country (who wasn't a closeted wallflower) wasn't remotely surprised. I remember at some point I mentally juxtapositioned how Stephen Lawrence's mother projected herself in the media, and I remember thinking Ricky's mum's accent wasn't helping her - that's the reality. I think Ricky's case was swiftly swept under the rug. But by then it was one of many dubious cases brown folk whispered about. 

Now we know a lot more about how the police operate (especially in the past), especially when it comes to men and women of colour, and what we know of umpteen shoddy 'investigations' into serious matters -  I think we can guess what went on. I mean, these people also covered up for the mass grooming of underage Sikh females - can we expect any better?

Rogue cops who shame the Met: Sex assault, racism and misogyny... damning report exposes criminals at heart of UK's largest police force - and why they are hanging on to their jobs

• Hundreds of cops getting away with sexual misconduct, racism and misogyny 
• Excoriating report lays bare the scale of misconduct festering in the Met Police
• Baroness Casey's report commissioned in wake of the murder of Sarah Everard 
• Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said officers in question should all be sacked

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11322011/Rogue-cops-shame-Met-Report-exposes-criminals-heart-UKs-largest-police-force.html