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Winston Trew: I was strangled by a corrupt police officer

Winston Trew shares his story of being attacked and arrested by a corrupt police officer in the lead-up to the 1981 Brixton riots.

In the new podcast, Brixton: Flames on the Frontline, Winston Trew (voiced by Peter Bankole) shares his story of being attacked and arrested by a corrupt police officer in the lead up to the 1981 Brixton riots.

He said: “Right there and then, the only difference between me and George Floyd was there weren’t any mobile phones around to record him strangling me.â€

Winston spent eight months in prison for attempted theft and assaulting a police officer. It later emerged he had been framed by a corrupt police officer from the British Transport Police.

His conviction was not overturned until 2019 - 47 years later.

British Transport Police Deputy Chief Constable Adrian Hanstock said: “I apologise unreservedly for the distress, anxiety and impact this will have undoubtedly caused those who were wrongly convicted.â€

He added: “Over the intervening 45 years there have been significant changes in how all forces, including British Transport Police, identify and investigate police misconduct.â€

Find out how Winston’s story - and others like it - led to growing anger before the 1981 Brixton riots in this new podcast, available on Â鶹ԼÅÄ Sounds.

Release date:

Duration:

3 minutes