The city of London has agree to award a five-figure settlement after he was wrongfully handcuffed and detained by British police officers. The Black man was stopped by law enforcement officers at his home while he was opening the gate to his garden.
On Sep. 2 when the Metropolitan Police announced it would pay out £10,000 in damages to Navern De La Kruz after the officer unlawfully detained him on June 27, 2020. According to USA Today, the 31-year-old was opening his door to his yard to his fenced stables for his friend when officers performed an aggressive stop and search him. The police alleged he fit the description of a suspect they were looking for in connection to a crime.
Although the settlement has been agreed upon, De La Kruz says after two years Scotland Yard hasn’t given him a formal apology for the incident. According to the Morning Star he said, “I felt so belittled to be stopped, searched and handcuffed in my garden for something I had nothing to do with.”
De La Kruz added, “It has been more than two years since the incident and I still haven’t received an apology from the police, but unfortunately that’s exactly what I expected.”
The Met alleged the officers thought they had the right to stop De La Kruz under England’s Police and Criminal Evidence Act of 1984.
However, the his attorneys made the argument, highlighting the law prohibits the exercise of searches like that in a private home. De La Kruz said he had to confront the police through the courts to guarantee accountability.
De La Kruz said in a statement:
“I sought to hold the police to account because I want others, and particularly the younger generation of Black queens and kings, to know that the misuse of stop and search and handcuffs is not okay and that it can be challenged.”
“I sincerely hope lessons that lessons will be learnt from my case to ensure that officers act within their powers,” he said. “And understand the impact incidents like this can have on confidence in policing.”
Link to original The Black Detour