AN internal police investigation is underway after an Ipswich woman accused two police officers of racism towards her.Amina Begum told The Evening Star she felt discriminated against because of her ethnicity after the way police dealt with a complaint she made.

AN internal police investigation is underway after an Ipswich woman accused two police officers of racism towards her.

Amina Begum, told The Evening Star she felt discriminated against because of her ethnicity after the way police dealt with a complaint she made.

Mrs Begum said she was subjected to a torrent of racist abuse while dropping her child at school last November and is furious that charges were not pressed against the offending woman.

She said officers issued the woman with a caution despite the fact she wanted it taken to court.

Mrs Begum said: “She was swearing, calling me a Paki and pushing me.

“The things she was saying were outrageous.

“It was disgusting behaviour.

“I wanted her to go to court because of what she did and the police officers told me she would but she was given a caution.

“The CPS now say that because she has already been given a caution she can't be taken to court.

“I feel let down by the police officers.”

Mrs Begum said she has since spoken to a police inspector who told her the offence was so serious it should not have been dealt with in the way it was.

She said: “I feel it was my skin colour and who I am.

“I feel that if it was a white person it would have been dealt with in the right way.

“There is no difference between that woman and the police officers.”

“I want to make a formal complaint so the officers get the right training and this doesn't happen again.”

Suffolk police told the Evening Star it has met with Mrs Begum.

Chief Inspector Bruce Robinson, district commander for Ipswich, said: “Racism will not be tolerated in Suffolk.

“We are discussing this matter with Mrs Begum and hope to achieve a resolution to this matter which is acceptable to her and which will enable us to take any appropriate internal action.

“We do take incidents of this kind very seriously and we will be investigating it thoroughly and in accordance with our complaints policies and procedures.

“Community cohesion and confidence in our working practices is central to the work we are doing here at Ipswich and across the county and I will be working with my colleagues and partner organisations to ensure that this issue receives the attention it deserves.”

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