Free The Crime Tsar by Nichola McAuliffe Page A

massive brain haemorrhage caused by blows or blow to the head with a blunt instrument, possibly a rounders or baseball bat.
    There was a heavy silence.
    Shackleton continued in his quietest, most compelling voice.
    â€˜I believe Mohammed died needlessly and will do everything in my power to find if any of my officers were responsible for his or Sammi’s injuries. I believe Mohammed was hurt during the fight and not by my men. That the bruising mentioned was not serious enough to indicate the gravity of the underlying fractures and so was missed by them. I do not believe – as I know some of you do –’
    He paused and looked round the room: every dark eye was on him, unblinking. He turned his head and spoke directly and gently to Mohammed’s mother.
    â€˜I really do not believe he died after being thrown against a wall or struck by my officers.’
    The leader of the youths interrupted.
    â€˜Just a minute – rounders bat or baseball bat – why not a baton? Eh? A side-handled baton?’
    Shackleton looked at him steadily.
    â€˜Because there was a sliver of wood left in the skin. It was painted. Police batons were made of mahogany, which does not splinter, and they were also coated in a rubberised varnish. The side-handled batons which we now use are made of polycarbonate. Not wood. It is impossible for a polycarbonate baton to leave a wood splinter in a wound. However, I will not rest until the exact circumstances of both boys’ injuries are established.’
    He paused. His reasonable tone almost too quiet so his audience had to lean forward to hear him. Now most were listening.
    Carter stood up and began to speak, very gently, with appealing humility. He spoke fluently and persuasively about the dangers of allowing internecine fighting to distract from the real problem ofracism. He pleaded with the youths to put aside their enmity and not allow the canker of hatred to contaminate their community.
    â€˜There is enough hatred from blacks to whites and whites to blacks, blacks to Asians and whites to Asians for there ever to be any good to be gained from perpetuating prejudice on this one small estate, and worse, to allow religious prejudice to ruin young lives is madness. Many of you have come here because of religious persecution and had to leave many things behind to do so. Surely intolerance should be one of those things.’
    The older people nodded, the young made no response.
    â€˜This evening you found a common cause against the police. Your hatred has brought you together – is it not possible to use this as a basis for future understanding that might, with patience and dialogue, include the police?’
    Carter spoke because he fervently believed in what he said. This was why he had joined the police service. There was none of Shackleton’s detatched calculation behind his words. Carter really cared and that made him vulnerable.
    Shackleton watched the crowd as Carter spoke. He wasn’t listening or thinking: his state of mind was still that animal readiness which admits no abstract thought or distraction. Instinctively he knew the immediate danger of the crowd becoming a murderous mob was over. He was aware that Carter had sat down and the old man was speaking. This was the voice that would swing them one way or the other.
    He praised Shackleton and Carter and their efforts to build bridges in the past. Shackleton looked down at his shoes – the old man was admonishing the police and humility seemed the correct attitude. He nodded to each point Mr Qureishi made. He knew they’d won when he saw a few of the young men take off their masks and slip away. There was a feeling of relief in the room.
    He stood up, ready to leave after a few words of reconciliation and humble apology; the television camera was pointed directly at him, there was no glimmer of triumphalism in his face. The outsiders by the door seemed irritated by the threat of peace breaking