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aislinnoc's review against another edition
4.0
This is very important and urgent, a polemic against structural racism in the police but it's very dense, and technical at times. It varies between impassioned account of the difficult position of BAME officers and dry, dense account of the employment tribunal process.
ruthlemon08's review
5.0
Kevin’s story is shocking and needs to be told. I feel proud on his behalf for his resilience and determination to fight what I was right. The police clearly have systemic homophobia, racism and sexism which needs to be addressed ... yesterday
kindledspiritsbooks's review
4.0
I thought I'd kick off LGBT+ History Month with a bit of recent history. Forced Out is the autobiography of Kevin Maxwell, a black, gay man and a former Metropolitan police officer, who took the force to an employment tribunal and won due to their entrenched culture of homophobia and racism. Maxwell's story is honestly a deeply dispiriting read, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't read it. Essentially it tracks his disillusionment with the force, opening with him as an optimistic and precocious child who has dreamed of serving his community as a police officer from an early age. Even when his colleagues treat him atrociously, excluding him, hurling slurs in his direction and denying him promotions, Maxwell is driven by an incredibly resilient desire to fulfil his childhood dream and serve the citizens of his community. The book is written with very little emotion, in spite of the emotional and upsetting nature of its subject matter, which I think might put some people off. But for me, the detailed and forensic nature of the writing makes it clear that Maxwell must have been a hell of detective and that the force lost one of their brightest the day they forced him out. Forced Out is a damning indictment of the culture of the British police force, and while it offers very little hope to its readers that change is incoming from within the force, I think the issues it raises are important for people to be aware of in order to build the demand for a police service that is inclusive to all.
readwithkatie_'s review
5.0
I cannot recommend this book enough!!! Especially if you’ve ever thought the UK police are not still institutionally racist.
It’s absolutely harrowing to read how one man faced so much racism and homophobia from fellow officers and how senior officers at GMP and the Met attempted to cover this up to retain the image that the police aren’t racist (the evidence of this is fully documented by the public reports of Maxwell’s employment tribunal)
Maxwell also makes a point of stressing that despite knowing some good cops, and recognising the important work of some officers, that attempts by individuals to break the prejudice is not enough. Particularly because the police continue to incentivise bad behaviour (the incentives are listed extensively and referenced).
Also another quick interesting point from the book is that Maxwell worked in counterterrorism and provides endless examples of racist targeting at UK airports by the police
It’s absolutely harrowing to read how one man faced so much racism and homophobia from fellow officers and how senior officers at GMP and the Met attempted to cover this up to retain the image that the police aren’t racist (the evidence of this is fully documented by the public reports of Maxwell’s employment tribunal)
Maxwell also makes a point of stressing that despite knowing some good cops, and recognising the important work of some officers, that attempts by individuals to break the prejudice is not enough. Particularly because the police continue to incentivise bad behaviour (the incentives are listed extensively and referenced).
Also another quick interesting point from the book is that Maxwell worked in counterterrorism and provides endless examples of racist targeting at UK airports by the police