The West Yorkshire Police Roads Policing Unit (RPU) have publicly apologised to a Bradford man after officers discovered he had done nothing wrong.
Officers stopped Muhammad Malik in his heavily modified BMW M5 on Great Horton Road in the early hours of August 16. West Yorkshire Police stopped Mr Malik under Section 163 of the Road Traffic Act (1988). However, after checking Mr Malik’s credentials, they were forced to let him continue on his journey.
Bobby Beat, a spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police, explained the situation to the Yorkshire Tribune.
“Officers pulled over a modified BMW M5 on Great Horton Road at 2:34 a.m. on August 16. The driver was not speeding, nor was he driving erratically. The RPU officers discovered the driver held a full UK driving licence with no penalty points, and that his vehicle was both taxed and insured. The officers considered charging the driver with wasting police time, but opted to let him go.”
Mr Malik has since filed an official complaint to West Yorkshire Police, citing discrimination for being pulled over.
“I was just on my way home from work, innit bruv. I had Sunrise Radio playing some tunes when I saw blue lights behind me. After pulling over, the Po-Po checked my details, had a quick gander around my ride, and had no choice but to let me go. Would they have pulled me over if I were driving a normal motor or if I weren’t Asian? Probably not, bruv.”
West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Issues Apology
Chief Constable T.R. Uncheon apologised to Mr Malik via the West Yorkshire Police website.
“It came to my attention that two of my officers stopped a car in Bradford under the Road Traffic Act. The stoppage was entirely lawful and justified. However, after discovering the driver and his vehicle were breaking no rules, we apologise profusely for wasting his time.”
The officers were indeed justified in pulling over Mr Malik. Not only was someone on the roads at 2:34 a.m. unusual, but Bradford’s road users are among the worst in the United Kingdom. Latest statistics show that one in every 191 Bradford drivers is currently serving a ban, the most in the country. Similarly, for every 100,000 people over the driving age, there were 247 offences committed in Bradford; that’s one dangerous driving crime for every 420 people.
In Bradford’s BD1, BD3, BD8, and BD9 postcode areas, one in 20 drivers has at least six penalty points on their licence. Additionally, one in every 244 Bradford drivers is uninsured.
In the three years up to June 2024, West Yorkshire Police officers in Bradford dealt with 1,039 dangerous driving offences, including 39 that resulted in serious injury or death. If you must drive in Bradford, remember that not everyone is like Mr Malik, and it is highly recommended that you install a forward—and rear-facing camera in your vehicle.
