Sheku cop denies he wanted to join far-Right BNP

A POLICE officer involved in the arrest of Sheku Bayoh has denied ever wanting to join the far-Right BNP.

Alan Paton, who has since retired from the force, also said claims he was racist to a neighbouring Asian family were ‘made-up nonsense’.

The allegations were made by Mr Paton’s sister and were read out at the inquiry into the death of Mr Bayoh, being held in Edinburgh.

The former gas engineer died in Kirkcaldy, Fife, in 2015 while he was being detained by police and the inquiry is examining whether race was a factor.

During a pre-recorded testimony, Mr Paton said claims he wanted to join the extremist party as a teenager and that he used racist language were ‘not true in its entirety’.

In the recording played to the inquiry yesterday, Angela Grahame, KC, read out a statement from Mr Paton’s sister Karen Swan which said: ‘I would like to go back to when Alan was a teenager. My mum told me at the time that Alan had said he wanted to join the BNP and she had told him she would disown him if he did.

‘Alan used to make racist remarks to the Asian family that lived round the corner.

‘If they passed by him he would make racist comments towards them. I don’t know anything else about him joining the BNP.’

Mr Paton denied the claims. When pressed by inquiry chairman Lord Bracadale if he joined the BNP, Mr Paton told him ‘No’. A statement from Mr Paton’s brother-in-law Barry Swan was also read to the inquiry. He said his wife had told him Mr Paton had wanted to join the BNP.

Mr Paton denied making such remarks. He also contradicted evidence from witness Ashley Wise, who said Mr Bayoh was making a lot of noise during his arrest and appeared to ask police to get off him.

Mr Paton told the inquiry that father-of-two Mr Bayoh ‘uttered not one word’ while he was being restrained.

He said: ‘From my initial engagement with him to the conclusion of my involvement, he remained silent. The only screams I heard was that of [police officer] Nicole Short.’

Mr Bayoh, 31, died after he was restrained on the ground by multiple officers.

Mr Paton and fellow officer Craig Walker were first on the scene after reports Mr Bayoh had been carrying a knife and attacking vehicles.

The inquiry has previously heard they rapidly deployed their incapacitant sprays on unarmed Mr Bayoh, and PC Walker said the gas engineer was ‘clearly in some sort of rage’.

The Bayoh family’s solicitor Aamer Anwar said this was a ‘significant moment’ for them.

He added: ‘Sheku’s loved ones will never give up the search for truth, no matter what obstacles are placed in their path.’

The inquiry continues.